MOUNT DESERT – Elizabeth “Auntie Bet” Middleton Massey Tomkiewicz, 97, went to eternal rest Sept. 24, 2011, at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital after suffering a fall and a broken pelvis. She was born March 28, 1914, on Vinalhaven, the only girl of five children to Daniel and Bella (Donald) Middleton. They came to the USA via Ellis Island from Scotland.
At age 16, she moved from Vinalhaven to Wilmington, Del., to stay with her Aunt Jessie, while there she met and married the love of her life, Peter Massey and 10 years after his death in 1961, she married John Tomkiewicz. Elizabeth lived in Wilmington, Del., for 66 years where she had many dear friends including her sister-in-law, Vivan Tomkiewicz, now of Connecticut, and a dear friend of nearly 50 years, Peg Mellen. At the death of her second husband, John, she moved to Mount Desert Island to make her home with her niece, Elizabeth “Betty” Allen and husband, David. She will be sadly missed by her best friend on Mount Desert Island, Glenice Carter. The two were like the Bobsy twins, always together for a new hairdo, lunch, always finishing with strawberry ice cream, their favorite! One of Auntie Bet’s favorite pastimes was writing to old friends on Vinalhaven, in Wilmington, Del., in Canada and Scotland. Auntie Bet enjoyed watching TV and movies, and loved to read. She was known by all as “Auntie Bet” especially by her art students. When Betty and Dave went on vacation Yvonne Lambert of Hampden stayed with her, and also Laura and Buster Olson of Southwest Harbor were her companions occasionally. She will be remembered for her perfect hairstyle, beautiful manner, dress and especially her sharp mind. She kept everyone straight, never missing a chance to send a card with a note of love. Aunt Bet had seen the coming of age of automobiles to rockets to the moon. Her daily newspaper was a must! When she moved back to Maine, even though she did not know many people, she still had to have the paper and read the news – local, state and national! Up until her fall last Sunday, she could tell you the world news, local news, politics, coming weather or whatever you wanted to know, and she would be right. The one thing that she wanted to live to see was her brother, Allan Middleton, Betty’s father, being inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame Oct. 15 in Rockland. She’ll be there with us in spirit – the world has lost one of its true ladies.
Never having children, her niece, Betty, was like a daughter to her; great-nieces and nephews, who were like grandchildren to her, Laraine Walls Wade and husband, Dennis, of Greenfield, Mass., Susan Walls Jackson and husband, Lee, of Monroe, Allan Walls of Bar Harbor; and Betty’s stepchildren, Mike Allen and wife, Holly, of Ellsworth, Tim Allen of Mount Desert. She was predeceased by her parents; four brothers, Donald, 9, Peter, 2 months, John, 25, and Allan, 26; and two husbands, each of 25 years, Peter Massey and John Tomkiewicz. Auntie Bet requested to spend eternity with them. God bless a beautiful person! The family thanks the doctors and nurses of Maine Coast Memorial Hospital who gave such loving care to her.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Allen’s home, 2 Fitz Hugh Lane, Mount Desert. Interment will be held at John Carver Cemetery, Vinalhaven at a later date. At the request of the family, no flowers please. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.