Elizabeth Henry

Elizabeth “Betty” M. (Breen) Henry, 80, died May 27, 2023, at Dodge Park Rest Home in Worcester after a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was the wife of the late Robert R. Henry, to whom she was married for 43 years.  Born May 4, 1943, in Worcester, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Marion (Bragg) Breen. Her brother, Arthur M. Bragg also pre-deceased her. 

After graduating from Classical High School in 1962, Betty briefly entertained college life, but then attended Ward Secretary School. Her career included working at Paul Revere, then State Mutual, and for a hot minute, even McDonald’s, before going on to her final career move in 1984 at Central Administration for the Worcester Public Schools, first as secretary to the Superintendent, Dr John Durkin where she earned her nickname Queen Elizabeth, and later she moved to the Transportation Department, retiring in 2010.  

She leaves behind her beloved and devoted daughters Robyn Henry, and Michelle Henry and son-in-law, Paul Davis, grandsons Evan Lindberg (her baby boy), and Kailer Davis, stepson Robert (Henry) Oliver and his wife Katie, step-grandsons Bobby and Alan, stepdaughter Kristy (Henry) Oliver- Levee and her husband Larry, and step-grandson Sean Patrick. She also leaves behind all who have come into her life and have been like family, as well as a large extended, loving and close-knit family of many cousins who were like siblings to her, including her favorite uncle, Uncle Dickie Bragg and favorite traveling companion and cousin, Joanne (Menditto) Miles. She loved everyone in her life unconditionally and was always ready and willing to help when needed.

Throughout the entirety of her life, Betty was a devoted daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, friend, and wife, but most of all, mother. She took great pleasure, and loved, having her hands in everything her girls did, whether it was being a chaperone on school field trips, at Girl Scout camp, driving them and their friends and cousins in the back of the station wagon to the destination of the day, or out exploring nature. She lived vicariously with her daughters, and not just through them. She enjoyed cooking, baking, traveling, reading, writing, and astronomy; hiking, the beach, and concerts (maybe), among the many things she did with them. She loved entertaining and having holidays with everyone, she enjoyed her trashy romance novels, and she taught catechism while her girls attended-from this experience she joyfully learned the art of skipping school with them- and always encouraged watching history in the making with them, good or bad. She loved her many pets she’d had in her lifetime (her most beloved pet was her parakeet named Dickiebird, after her favorite uncle) - all with whom she is now also joyfully reunited. In her later years, she enjoyed being a grandmother and a retiree; she loved watching her daily programs, going shopping, playing solitaire on the computer, going for rides blasting to her classical music, and having tea and crumpets wherever and with whomever she was visiting.

Her family would like to thank the entire staff at Dodge Park Rest Home for being able to provide a final dignified place for her to live, as well as the hospice nurses from Notre Dame Hospice. The endless compassion and dedication to her care was immeasurable, and Betty’s final months could not have been in better hands.

Betty’s funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 8 at 12:00 PM in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. Friends may call on the family from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM prior to the service.