Obituary for Elizabeth L. "Betty" Dougherty (Lucas)
On Monday, November 9, 2020, our wonderful mother, Betty Dougherty passed away at 94. Betty was born Elizabeth Anna Lucas on August 28, 1926 in Camden, NJ to Charles Lucas and Anna Smolko. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Francis Joseph Dougherty, brothers Joseph and Richard Lucas, and her sisters Hilda Hubert and Marie Dougherty. Together they raised 3 children: Tom married to Rose of Mantua, NJ, Eileen married to Craig of Powell Butte OR, Brian married to Josephine of Sewell, NJ; and granddaughter, Amanda Dougherty engaged to Jason Sherman, of Clarksboro, NJ. Betty and Francis lived in Oak Valley, Deptford Twp., and Washington Twp., NJ until they retired and moved to Florida. After Frank passed Betty moved back to Mantua.
Family and Friends may visit from 9 am to 10:30 am on Wednesday, November 18, at Smith Funeral Home, 47 Main Street, Mantua, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, November 18th, at Church of the Incarnation, 240 Main Street Mantua, NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society c/o Church of the Incarnation, 240 Main Street, Mantua, NJ 08051 or the charity of your choice. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.smithfhmantua.com
Eulogy from Betty's daughter Eileen
My mother was holding a snapdragon flower in her hand. We were kneeling in the grass, our heads together. “Very gently, squeeze the flower on the sides like this, and see, it snaps like a dragon”. This is one of my earliest memories of my mother, her showing me how to snap a snap dragon. Beauty, wonder, and happiness in one gesture of love.
Mom was, simply great. She always tried to make everything better, special. Always trying new things. She was playful, happy, loving, and extremely patient. She knew how to have fun and loved to dance and sing. I remember being amazed watching her and dad dance a waltz together. They glided through the room so elegantly will such grace and style.
Though she grew up during the Great Depression and World War II without a father, everything she did was beautifully and skillfully done. While we were growing up, she had many hobbies. She awed us with her crafting skills. She made scented candles that looked and smelled like ice cream sodas. She made fancy bonnets for each of my guests for one of my birthday parties out of crepe paper and cardboard. They were glorious.
Tom remembers a pirate themed party she threw for him: eye patches, hats, and of course: swords! Boys being boys, however, that would be the one and only party.
Mother sewed me a Mary Poppins costume for Halloween: the skirt, jacket, hat, and a carpet bag with lots of room for candy -lots of candy! With enormous patience she taught me to sew. When little, Tom showed Dad how mom “scotch taped” the foot of his pajamas together (his words, she sewed them together after a rip -think unruly pirate). Only recently she told me she hated to sew.
We enjoyed long summer days swimming at the local lake while mom sat in the shade chatting with the other mothers. Several times a summer we loaded up in the station wagon and headed for the beach, stopping in the pine barrens to have lunch. We ate homemade sandwiches sitting on the folded down door, swinging our feet with the smell of hot pine needles in the air.
She was a great cook too, from pot roast to holiday turkeys to school lunches that always included a Tastykake and an apple. I remember coming home from school to chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.
We are going to miss you mom more than we can express. We will remember you every time we smell fresh baked cookies or hot pine needles in the summer, and while we sit on the beach on hot summer days. And for me, there will always be snapdragons in my garden. You us so much love and made our lives beautiful.
Family and Friends may visit from 9 am to 10:30 am on Wednesday, November 18, at Smith Funeral Home, 47 Main Street, Mantua, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, November 18th, at Church of the Incarnation, 240 Main Street Mantua, NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society c/o Church of the Incarnation, 240 Main Street, Mantua, NJ 08051 or the charity of your choice. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.smithfhmantua.com
Eulogy from Betty's daughter Eileen
My mother was holding a snapdragon flower in her hand. We were kneeling in the grass, our heads together. “Very gently, squeeze the flower on the sides like this, and see, it snaps like a dragon”. This is one of my earliest memories of my mother, her showing me how to snap a snap dragon. Beauty, wonder, and happiness in one gesture of love.
Mom was, simply great. She always tried to make everything better, special. Always trying new things. She was playful, happy, loving, and extremely patient. She knew how to have fun and loved to dance and sing. I remember being amazed watching her and dad dance a waltz together. They glided through the room so elegantly will such grace and style.
Though she grew up during the Great Depression and World War II without a father, everything she did was beautifully and skillfully done. While we were growing up, she had many hobbies. She awed us with her crafting skills. She made scented candles that looked and smelled like ice cream sodas. She made fancy bonnets for each of my guests for one of my birthday parties out of crepe paper and cardboard. They were glorious.
Tom remembers a pirate themed party she threw for him: eye patches, hats, and of course: swords! Boys being boys, however, that would be the one and only party.
Mother sewed me a Mary Poppins costume for Halloween: the skirt, jacket, hat, and a carpet bag with lots of room for candy -lots of candy! With enormous patience she taught me to sew. When little, Tom showed Dad how mom “scotch taped” the foot of his pajamas together (his words, she sewed them together after a rip -think unruly pirate). Only recently she told me she hated to sew.
We enjoyed long summer days swimming at the local lake while mom sat in the shade chatting with the other mothers. Several times a summer we loaded up in the station wagon and headed for the beach, stopping in the pine barrens to have lunch. We ate homemade sandwiches sitting on the folded down door, swinging our feet with the smell of hot pine needles in the air.
She was a great cook too, from pot roast to holiday turkeys to school lunches that always included a Tastykake and an apple. I remember coming home from school to chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.
We are going to miss you mom more than we can express. We will remember you every time we smell fresh baked cookies or hot pine needles in the summer, and while we sit on the beach on hot summer days. And for me, there will always be snapdragons in my garden. You us so much love and made our lives beautiful.