Grace-Elizabeth Bergen

Grace-Elizabeth "Betsy" Bergen, 87, died at home on Saturday, October 20th. Born in Boston, MA on March 30, 1931 she was the daughter of Erlund and Beryl (Finch) Field and grew up in Weston, MA where she graduated from Cambridge School. She was a lifelong learner achieving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Connecticut University in counseling and gerontology as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School.

Her greatest loves were family, God, friends, and social justice. She was a world traveler and loved vacations that included family, ski trips, and anything on the water. She and her husband Bob enjoyed skiing throughout their lives continuing well into their 70’s. She was an artist and loved creating beautiful things.

She was a passionate advocate and activist. While living in Bethany, Connecticut, she was a paralegal for the Waterbury Legal Aid; a political activist; and a chaplain at Yale New Haven and Gaylord Hospitals. She was a prominent member of the Bethany Congregational Church and, after graduating from Yale, she created a ministry for the poor and homeless of New Haven. After moving to South Hadley, MA she was an active member in the Center Church of South Hadley, the local conservation initiatives, local politics, the South Hadley Historical Society, and worked tirelessly to help beautify Loomis Village. She also initiated a chaplaincy program at Loomis Village.

Betsy was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Robert L. Bergen Jr in 2011. She will be missed by her four children: Beryl Bergen and her husband Henry Field of Framingham MA; Alice Muh and her husband Robert of Littleton, NH; Robert Bergen III and his wife Francine of Bethany, CT; Jennifer Bergen and her husband William Richardson of Chester, England. She is also survived by her six grandchildren: Brian Muh, Christopher Muscarella, Rebecca Limberg, Stephen Muscarella, Robert Bergen IV, and Kevin Bergen, and seven great grandchildren. Her siblings Jennifer Stowell and Peder Field and his wife Faith survive her. She was preceded in death by her sister, Lesley Dunbar.

A Celebration of Life service will be on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11 am at Center Church, 1 Church St, South Hadley, MA. There will be a reception following the funeral.

Memorial donations may be made to Baystate Home Health Care and Hospice, Baystate Health Care Foundation, 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199. Beers and Story South Hadley Funeral Home have been entrusted with arrangements. For more information and to sign the online guest register please visit www.beersandstory.com.