Alice Margaret Batson

Alice Margaret Batson, 98
PORTLAND -- Alice Margaret Batson, 98, of Portland and Kennebunk, passed away on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, surrounded by her loving family.
Alice was born in Brockton, Mass., on May 8, 1912, one of four children of Anthony and Mary McDonald Giardino. Alice attended Brockton schools. After graduating from Brockton High School, class of 1930, she worked at the Brockton Enterprise Department Store.
She married her high school sweetheart, Arthur Batson, on Sept. 24, 1939. During the time her husband was serving with the Army Corp. of Engineers, they resided in Franklin, N.H., Bermuda, Portland and Boston. They returned to Portland in 1947 when her husband accepted a position with John Lucas Tree Expert Co.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s Alice was employed by Porteous, Mitchell and Braun during the Christmas holiday seasons and part time at Jordan Marsh for a number of years after her children were grown.
Alice was a talented seamstress and enjoyed designing and sewing her daughters' clothing and dance recital costumes. Other interests included bridge, bowling and following the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics. Her love of sports included Duke University basketball (her husband's alma mater), and in later years she delighted in following televised football and basketball broadcasts of her grandchildren's alma maters.
An avid golfer she was a member of the Portland Country Club and Webhannet Golf Club, Kennebunk Beach, where a tournament is named in her honor. One of her proudest golfing moments was scoring a hole in one while wintering in Florida.
Her happiest moments were spent with her family. She especially enjoyed summers since 1953 at the family home at Kennebunk Beach, which continues to be a gathering place for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Alice Margaret
Batson
She is remembered by her family as loving, supportive and non-judgmental. The quiet matriarch and loyal friend never spoke an unkind word about anyone.
Alice was a communicant of St. Patrick's church and a member of the Women's Council. She was also a member of Mercy Hospital's Auxiliary, and a past member of the Cheverus High School Mother's Club.
She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Arthur, in 1997; her sister, Hazel Donovan, and brother, Edward Giardino of Cape Cod. She is survived by her daughters, Linda Geary and her husband Steven of Cohasset, Mass., Jane Amato and her husband Leo of Portland, and son, Arthur Batson and his wife Connie of Falmouth. She also leaves behind her six grandchildren, Colleen Geary and John Geary of Kennebunk, Anthony Amato of Wayland, Mass., Nicole Amato Nalchajian of Falmouth, Arthur Batson III of Portland, Lindsay Batson Regan of New Canaan, Conn.; and eight great-grandchildren. Her eldest sibling, Evelyn Giardino of Bridgewater, Mass., will celebrate her 101st birthday on Feb. 5, 2011.
Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 1342 Congress St., Portland. Burial will follow in New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. On-line condolences may be expressed at: www.ctcrawford.com.
For those who desire, please
consider a donation in her name to:
Mercy Hospital
144 State St.
Portland, Maine 04101