Mildred D. Beebe

Mildred Dunn Beebe, 89, of Gardner, died early Thursday morning, January 22, in Heywood Hospital following a brief illness. Mildred was born in Worcester, October 20, 1919, daughter of the late Frederick and Alice (Eaton) Dunn. She moved to Gardner 49 years ago with her late husband Clifford D. Beebe, who died June 26, 2002. Mildred is a 1936 graduate of Cushing Academy. In 1941, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Economics from Mount Holyoke College. Throughout World War II she worked in the insurance industry in Boston. Later, she worked as a tax accountant for H&R Block and other firms. Mildred has been both a Trustee and Trustee Emeritus of Cushing Academy since 1984. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Baldwinville Nursing Home and the associated Protestant Youth Center. Mildred was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Gardner, most recently renting a skating rink each year at Cushing for the Sunday School. She worked on Hospital Aid at Heywood Hospital. She was an avid bridge tournament player and tennis player and belonged to the Boat Club and the Chowder Club. Mildred is survived by one son, Thatcher R. Beebe and his wife Martine Chesneau of Geneva, Switzerland; two daughters, Barbara A. Beebe and her partner Colm McHugh of Los Angeles, CA, and Alice B. Longley and her husband Alan of Short Hills, NJ; 7 grandchildren: Julian Groover, Mark Groover, Jonathan Longley, Andrew Longley, Clifford Longley, Raphael Jenks, and Olivia Jenks; and several nieces and nephews. Mildred is pre-deceased by two brothers, Edward Dunn and Richard Dunn, and one sister, Margorie Dunn. You are invited to attend her Funeral Service to be held in the First Congregational Church, 28 Green St., Gardner on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 1:00 pm. Rev. Duke T. Gray will officiate. Burial in Crystal Lake Cemetery, Gardner will be private and at the convenience of the family The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be sent in her name to Cushing Academy, 39 School Street, Ashburnham MA 01430. To sign the online guest register for Mrs. Beebe, please visit our website at www.fletcherfuneral.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Smith Funeral Home, 69 Vernon St., Gardner.