Elizabeth Louise (McNamara) Hughes

Elizabeth Louise (McNamara) Hughes, was born in Boston, MA on January 18, 1922, to Joseph McNamara and Marguerite Coleman. Betty grew up in Brookline, MA. She loved to tell stories about roller skating down the driveway in her silk stockings and waving hello to her grandparents next door. Betty graduated from Regis College in Weston, MA in 1944. She fell in love with Joseph T. Hughes of Newton while on a dinner date with mutual friends. They were married on October 14, 1950 and welcomed a son on their first anniversary. Betty is remembered as a nurturing mother, Nanna, and great-Nanna, who dearly loved her large Irish Catholic family. In West Hartford, CT, Singer Island, FL and Osterville, MA she took pleasure in family, friends, and tending her flower gardens, leaving a faint trail of Estée Lauder perfume wherever she went. Betty was part of a bowling league and investment club, and played bridge well into her 80s. She spent retirement years playing golf, swimming ocean laps and watching sunsets on the beach with Joe. She finished most days with a novel in bed and some peppermint stick ice cream and hot fudge from Four Seas. Among their many travels, Betty and Joe treasured their trip to their ancestral homeland of Ireland with their five children for their 50th wedding anniversary.
Betty passed away peacefully at Seabury, Bloomfield, CT. She now joins in heaven her beloved husband, Joe, of sixty-three years, her parents and her sister, Polly “Kidsie” Fitzgerald. She leaves behind her 5 children, Joseph "Chip" Hughes, Jr. (Janis) of Chapel Hill, NC; Amy Hughes of West Hartford, CT; Mary Lisa Schaller (Thomas) of Towson, MD; Audrey Hughes of West Hartford, CT; and Robert Hughes (Kathryn) of Malvern, PA; 18 grandchildren: Savannah McMurray (Steven), Samuel Hughes, Miriam Hughes, Julie Silva (Rob), Susanne Guthrie(Scott), Andrey Koch, Raisa Koch, Bethany Odahara (Jonathan), Amy Fenner (Walter), Justin Schaller (Ann Margaret), Kyle Schaller, Elizabeth Braunstein, Caroline Klink (Steven), Peter Braunstein, Tucker Hughes, Corey Hughes, Christian Hughes and Keegan Hughes; and 16 great-grandchildren.
The Hughes family would like to thank the loving Seabury staff and community for all the support that they have provided to Betty and her family. Betty’s life will be celebrated at Holy Name Church in West Roxbury founded in 1927 where her uncle “Father Mac” was the 1st pastor. She will be laid to rest at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline, MA. All memorial services will be private.

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