ELIZABETH V. MCNEIL

McNEIL, Elizabeth V. (McKenzie) Elizabeth Veronica "Betty" McNeil, daughter of Francis J. McKenzie and Mary E. (Connolly) McKenzie, passed away quietly, recently at her home on Hampshire Street in Everett. She was 100 years old. Elizabeth had celebrated her 100th birthday with more than 100 guests at Anthony's in Malden at the end of December. Unfortunately, a hip-breaking fall the following day led to surgery and then rehab and a diminishment in her mobility. Her goal was to return to her home and her family including her much-loved cats, Diva and Juno, and she did that under hospice care. Some may remember Elizabeth as the 2006 graduate of Harvard, at the age of 82, which brought her a measure of notoriety, but there was much more in her 100 years of life. As a teen, Elizabeth McKenzie worked at Dorgan's with her sister, Mary, as a hat check girl and later as a factory worker supporting the war effort during World War II. In 1951, she married James McNeil and they raised four children, Louis, Patricia, Karen and Joan. Elizabeth McNeil was a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, stay-at-home mom for several years before going to work that culminated in a 25+ year career at Harvard University Health Services. While working at Harvard's Health Services, she began taking classes there simply for personal enrichment at first, then decided to work towards a degree program. When she was 80 years-old, she retired from Harvard University Health Services to devote more time to her studies and she received a Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences in 2006 at age 82. After graduating, Elizabeth was a volunteer at Boston By Foot, proudly showing visitors historic sites in Boston's North End and Beacon Hill. She also was a volunteer Reading Mentor at the Sumner Whittier School in Everett for several years. She loved her days there reading with the first and second graders and listening to their stories, and giving them books, crayons and stickers for their efforts. Education had always been important in Elizabeth's life so as a 90th birthday gift her family and friends established the Elizabeth McNeil Scholarship Fund that provides a scholarship to a college-bound senior from Everett High School every year. She was most proud of the fact that until this year she was always able to be at the EHS Scholarship Night to present her scholarship personally to each recipient. Elizabeth was especially appreciative of the students over the years who wrote notes and letters and even sent flowers expressing their gratitude for her scholarship. Elizabeth lived a full and satisfying life. She spent her final days happy and content at home listening to the music that she loved, under the watchful and caring eyes of her family especially her daughter, Joan Clifford, and her granddaughter, Shauna Caterino. Elizabeth leaves her immediate family of Louis and Denise McNeil of Danvers, Patricia McNeil of Houston, TX, Karen McNeil of Cape Coral, FL, Joan Clifford of Everett and Shauna and Dan Caterino of Everett as well as a host of extended family and friends. Her family would also like to thank and acknowledge all of the hospice and medical and support people involved in Elizabeth's care. In accordance with Elizabeth's wishes her body was donated to Harvard University Medical School for research. It was her hope that such research might improve the health and quality of life of others in the future. Any and all other arrangements by Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, 65 Clark Street, EVERETT, (617-387-3120) will be private. Contributions from family and friends to the Elizabeth McNeil Scholarship Fund c/o Everett Co-op Bank, 419 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 would certainly be appreciated and help to maintain her legacy.