Bette (Brown) Pope was born in Worcester, MA in 1928, to James Arthur Brown and Maude Ellen (Barlow) Brown. The youngest of three children, Bette was predeceased by her parents and brother, James Brown and sister, Helen Thompson Kennedy.

    Bette was a graduate of Commerce High School in Worcester, and married Alvan Pope, of Shrewsbury in December 1946. They moved to Auburn, where they raised five children and resided happily together until Alvan's death in 1997.

    Bette leaves a son Alvan, Jr. and wife, Donna Pope of Auburn; daughters, Marilyn Kent of Oxford, Glenna and husband, Michael Kimball of Cape Neddick, Maine, Joan and husband, Jay Hawkins of Sutton, and Cynthia and husband, Mark Anderson of Charlton. She also leaves twelve loving grandchildren: Karen, James, Melissa, Jessica, Jesse, Sarah, Jonathan, Tara, Daniel, T.J., Christin, and Justine and seven great grandchildren.

    As a young woman, Bette worked as keypunch operator. While raising her five children, she was a Bluebird leader, and avid bowler. She so loved children and later worked as a teacher's aide at Julia Bancroft School in Auburn.

    Bette was an extremely active senior. She loved her Auburn Ladies Lunch group and traveling with her friends. She enjoyed many cruises, bus tours, and journeyed overseas to countries such as Germany, England, Ireland, and Hawaii. Friends and family knew her as a lifelong reader and ingenious crossword puzzler.

    Bette was a devoted member of St Joseph's Parish, as well as a member of the Auburn Library book club, Silver Sneakers workout group, and she always looked forward to her Friday afternoon lunches and tea with Joanie at the 99. Bette will be remembered as a devoted and loving Mom, Grandma and G.G.

    The family wishes to thank Dr. Platt, Dr. Martin and Dr. Kumar for their extraordinary service, as well as the kind and loving group of professionals that assisted Bette in hospice care.

    Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Bette's family on Monday, December 20, 2010 from 4-7 P.M. in the Britton-Wallace Funeral Home, 91 Central Street, Auburn. Her funeral will be from the funeral home on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 with her funeral Mass celebrated at 11 A.M. in Saint Joseph's Church, 189 Oxford Street North, Auburn. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bette's name to The VNA Care Network, Hospice Program, 120 Thomas Street, Worcester, MA 01608.