Obituary

Elizabeth Pierce

Thu, 09/05/2019 - 11:30am

After a long life of nearly 102 years, Elizabeth (Young) Pierce died peacefully on July 24, 2019.

Elizabeth was born on Sept. 26, 1917 in Hearts Content, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. She graduated from St. John's General Hospital School of Nursing in 1940. Shortly thereafter, she began working at the base hospital located on the mammoth construction site of the naval air station in Argentia, Newfoundland. Bruce Pierce was also working at the site as an engineer; they soon fell in love, married, and were happy together for 65 years.

They settled in Massachusetts and had a daughter, Susan. Elizabeth devoted her next years to raising their daughter before resuming her nursing career. At retirement, they built a home on Westport Island in Maine on property that has been passed down through the Pierce family for many years. Even after Bruce passed away, Elizabeth was very happy living there among so many wonderful friends and neighbors. She said that the view of the ocean from her window reminded her of her childhood home in Heart's Content.

Elizabeth had a beautiful voice and sang all the time. She was a wonderful cook, seamstress, gardener, neighbor and nurse. She always placed the needs of others before her own. Years ago, under a photo of her family gathered together, her brother Max wrote, “There you are, spreading happiness and making history without a second thought.”

Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Susan; grandson Jonathan and his wife Jennifer; grandson Matthew and his wife Miranda; and four great-grandchildren; Miles, Julian, James and Sophia.
The family thanks the wonderful people at Chase Point/Riverside in Damariscotta and also the doctors, nurses, CNA's and social workers at Miles Memorial Hospital medical-surgical unit for their “above and beyond” loving kindness and excellent care.

A memorial service will be held at the Westport Island Old Historic Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. Refreshments will follow at the Old Town Hall next to the church.

Burial will be in the Pierce family cemetery at the convenience of the family.