Elizabeth "Betty" Stevens Richardson

Elizabeth “Betty” Stevens Richardson of Needham and Newton, passed away quietly amongst family on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at the age of 89. Born in Boston, MA and raised in Brookline, MA., she was the daughter of the late Dr. William B. Stevens and E. Frances (Eaton) Stevens. Betty graduated from Brookline High School and Miami University in Ohio.  After her graduation, a job teaching 2nd grade at the Bowers Elementary School took her to Manchester, CT and an encounter with a handsome bank teller named Kendall Richardson. Betty and Kendall married on August 6, 1955 and were together for nearly 64 years until Kendall’s death earlier this year.

In 1968 Betty and her family moved back to Massachusetts and settled in Needham where she lived happily for 50 years. She was an active community member as a school volunteer, PTC chairperson, room mother, media center volunteer and more. She helped run the Needham Dragons Girls Hockey Program and was instrumental in the success of the Girls Hockey League. When her daughters reached their teenage years she decided to re-enter the working world, going back to school and becoming a Human Resources Manager. Betty thoroughly enjoyed her career and worked well into her 70s, commuting daily on the train to Boston.

Throughout her life, Betty’s fondest memories were of summers spent with her extended family in Tiverton, RI.  She eventually was able to share this experience with her own children and her oldest grandson was the 13th generation of the family to enjoy the family home on Main St. in Tiverton. She loved summers with family and friends at the Cape and family vacations throughout the US and Canada. She was raised in a music loving household and while she loved music of all kinds, she was especially fond of strings and played the cello for many years. She enjoyed the Pops and the BSO and trips to Tanglewood with good friends.

Betty was a long time Bruins fan and season ticket holder and still an avid hockey fan through the heartbreak of last spring who rarely missed a game on TV once she couldn’t get into the Garden for the games.

Betty was the one who kept friends and family members close despite distance or the passage of time. She called, she wrote, she texted, she planned gatherings and kept in touch with everyone who was important to her. For years, her infamous, hand typed Christmas letter went out to hundreds of friends. The past few years were difficult as so many friends and family, old and new, left us but she was still always there with love and support for their families.

Betty’s family will tell you that she had the biggest heart in the world. Her greatest love was for her family and time spent with her husband Kendall and daughters, Karen Richardson of Southborough, MA and Diane Blair and her fiancé Daniel Kravitz of Chelmsford, MA brought her great joy. Yet, becoming a grandmother surpassed all other experiences and her grandchildren became the loves of her life. Grandma will be missed terribly by her biggest fans; Anthony Richardson, Katie Henderson, William Henderson, Lexi Blair, Kenny Blair, Elizabeth Blair and Julia Blair.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister Kate Stevens, brother William B Stevens, Jr. and grandson Evan Henderson. In Betty’s memory please take every opportunity to appreciate the people in your life who are important to you.

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