Elizabeth Sleeper

TOWNSEND -- Mrs. Elizabeth (Vennard) Sleeper, 71, of Townsend, died Friday, Dec. 23, at the Nashoba Deaconness Hospital in Ayer.

Born in Lowell, on Dec. 30, 1933, the daughter of the late Frank and Theresa (Bell) Vennard, she was raised on Washington Street in North Chelmsford, and attended Chelmsford High School.

She moved to Westford in 1959, and raised her family. She worked at the bakery in Donelan’s Supermarket in Acton for many years until retiring in 1997. She had been a resident of Townsend since 1997.

Mrs. Sleeper loved music and performed in many area shows with her father and sisters. While in high school, she was a majorette in the band.

She was a member of the North Chelmsford Congregational Church.

She is survived by three sons and a daughter in-law, Rick and Laurie (Knisley) Sleeper of West Townsend, Chuck Sleeper and James Sleeper, both of Townsend; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Marianne and Donald Brown of West Townsend, Jacqueline and Robert Barger of Townsend and Nancy Sleeper of Groton; three sisters and two brothers in-law, Catherine and John Cawthron of Manassas, Va., Theresa McCaul of Chelmsford, Joan and Earle Connell of Tyngsboro; 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Sleeper was predeceased by two brothers, Frank Vennard, who died in 1996, and Thomas Vennard, who died in 1986; and Clara Vennard.

SLEEPER -- Her Memorial Service will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the North Chelmsford Congergational Church, 15 Princeton Ave., Chelmsford. There are no visiting hours. Burial in Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell. Memorials may be made in her name to the American Lung Assn., P.O. Box 265, Burlington, MA 01803. Arrangements by Dolan Funeral Home, 106 Middlesex St., Chelmsford, MA. 978-251-4041. www.dolanfuneralhome.com