Florence Hathaway

Florence Hathaway Fall River, MA - Florence Bachand Hathaway, 93, died peacefully on December 21, 2008 at Sarah Brayton Nursing Home in Fall River. Born and raised in Fall River, she was the daughter of the late Alcidas and Josephine Stevens Bachand. She and her deceased husband of over 60 years, Merrill F. Hathaway, raised their family at 417 Middle Road Portsmouth. Florence is survived by her children Audrey Sheats of Guilford, NH; Lynn Bailey and her husband Madison of Bath, NH; Flo Oliveira and her husband Frank of Portsmouth, RI; Merrill F. Hathaway of Bowie, MD; and Jeff Hathaway of Tiverton, RI. She was Nanny Hathaway to eleven grandchildren, two deceased grandchildren, Alan Bailey and Mary Beth Oliveira, and sixteen great grandchildren.Florence was unselfishly devoted to her family. Her home was her castle and she was a homemaker extraordinaire. She worked very hard raising her children while assisting her husband in running an apple and peach orchard. She cooked, baked, and sewed not only for her own family but also to give away to neighbors, friends and even her childrens friends.She was the best Nanny to her grandchildren and willingly took care of them, even at last minute requests. She took care of them when they were sick, made a visit to an emergency room, and even wrote to the head of the Citadel when she thought her grandson was being treated unfairly.Although not highly educated, she had a deep respect for education to the point that she attended high school and college graduations of her own children as well as almost all the graduations for her grandchildren. Some graduations even took her to places she had never seen before.It is quite fitting that she passed away so close to Christmas because it was her favorite holiday. Her manger scene was filled with all of Gods creatures. Everyone in the family got many presents, some even purchased from garage sales which she loved going to. Many homemade goodies and homemade presents were passed out as well to anyone she felt she needed to say thank you to.A wake service will be held at Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, on Sunday, December 28, 2008 from 2 -5 pm. A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 29, 2008 at 10am in the Connors Funeral Home In honor of her memory, live out her deep conviction that is better to give than receive. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Looking Upwards at King Road in Tiverton, the group home that supports Jeff, or any charity of your choice which supports children with special needs. Somehow not only at Christmas but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. Whittier