Obituary for Elizabeth "Betty" A. (Bell) Sargent
Elizabeth "Betty" A. (Bell) Sargent, of Dracut, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 22, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 83 years old.
Born in Lowell on July 14, 1940 to Robert and Regina Bell, Betty grew up in North Chelmsford and was a member of the Congregational Church in North Chelmsford. She graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1957, at the age of 16. For the last three-plus decades, she was a resident of Dracut.
Prior to her retirement, Betty worked in medical records at Lowell General Hospital's Saints Campus for many years. In her 50s, she returned to school, earning her associate's degree in medical billing and coding from Northern Essex Community College in 1994 and excelling in the program.
Betty enjoyed journaling and writing, especially poetry, even receiving an award from WBZ-TV entertainment reporter and anchor Joyce Kulhawik for her poem, "The Daffodil." She was a die-hard Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan -- she knew all of the Patriots players and their stats, and could carry on conversations about the best of them. She was always excited for the NFL season to start in the fall and, for her birthday one year, even received a Build-A-Bear featuring Bill Belichick cut-off sleeves.
But above all, Betty loved and enjoyed her family: her greatest accomplishment. Her living room wall was famously filled with generations of photos of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always serving as a comfort to her in good times and bad. Lovingly referred to as "Grammie" by her grandchildren, she looked forward to the holiday season each year, always going out on Black Friday to get the toys they wanted. On Christmas Day, she donned the red and white garb of Mrs. Claus alongside Santa, portrayed by "Grampie," her loving husband of more than 40 years. Christmas celebrations were enjoyed in the couple's Dracut condo for many years before their growing family moved them to a larger room downstairs.
Betty will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her. In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her husband, Robert Sargent, with whom she shared more than 40 years of marriage; her brother, Robert Bell Jr. of Dracut; and her son-in-law, Allen Hensel of Milford, MA. She is survived by her five children; Robert Sargent and his wife, Connie, of Swansea; Jacqueline Hensel of Milford; Ronald Sargent and his wife, Kim, of Pelham, NH; Russell Sargent and his wife, Michelle, of Nashua, NH; and Jodianne Ingersoll and her partner, Paul Bell, of Weare, NH. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law; Geraldine Golas of Dracut, Lorraine Sargent of Newport, Vt., and Adella Sargent of Lowell, in addition to 15 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours for Betty will be held on Sunday, July 30th from 1 to 5 pm at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave., Dracut. Her funeral service will take place on Monday, July 31st at 10 am at the Congregational Church in North Chelmsford, 15 Princeton St. KINDLY MEET AT THE CHURCH. Burial will follow at Edson Cemetery, 1375 Gorham St., Lowell.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Betty's name to the Massachusetts chapter of the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1120, Framingham, MA, 01701, or by visiting American Cancer Society.
Born in Lowell on July 14, 1940 to Robert and Regina Bell, Betty grew up in North Chelmsford and was a member of the Congregational Church in North Chelmsford. She graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1957, at the age of 16. For the last three-plus decades, she was a resident of Dracut.
Prior to her retirement, Betty worked in medical records at Lowell General Hospital's Saints Campus for many years. In her 50s, she returned to school, earning her associate's degree in medical billing and coding from Northern Essex Community College in 1994 and excelling in the program.
Betty enjoyed journaling and writing, especially poetry, even receiving an award from WBZ-TV entertainment reporter and anchor Joyce Kulhawik for her poem, "The Daffodil." She was a die-hard Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan -- she knew all of the Patriots players and their stats, and could carry on conversations about the best of them. She was always excited for the NFL season to start in the fall and, for her birthday one year, even received a Build-A-Bear featuring Bill Belichick cut-off sleeves.
But above all, Betty loved and enjoyed her family: her greatest accomplishment. Her living room wall was famously filled with generations of photos of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always serving as a comfort to her in good times and bad. Lovingly referred to as "Grammie" by her grandchildren, she looked forward to the holiday season each year, always going out on Black Friday to get the toys they wanted. On Christmas Day, she donned the red and white garb of Mrs. Claus alongside Santa, portrayed by "Grampie," her loving husband of more than 40 years. Christmas celebrations were enjoyed in the couple's Dracut condo for many years before their growing family moved them to a larger room downstairs.
Betty will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her. In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her husband, Robert Sargent, with whom she shared more than 40 years of marriage; her brother, Robert Bell Jr. of Dracut; and her son-in-law, Allen Hensel of Milford, MA. She is survived by her five children; Robert Sargent and his wife, Connie, of Swansea; Jacqueline Hensel of Milford; Ronald Sargent and his wife, Kim, of Pelham, NH; Russell Sargent and his wife, Michelle, of Nashua, NH; and Jodianne Ingersoll and her partner, Paul Bell, of Weare, NH. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law; Geraldine Golas of Dracut, Lorraine Sargent of Newport, Vt., and Adella Sargent of Lowell, in addition to 15 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours for Betty will be held on Sunday, July 30th from 1 to 5 pm at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave., Dracut. Her funeral service will take place on Monday, July 31st at 10 am at the Congregational Church in North Chelmsford, 15 Princeton St. KINDLY MEET AT THE CHURCH. Burial will follow at Edson Cemetery, 1375 Gorham St., Lowell.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Betty's name to the Massachusetts chapter of the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1120, Framingham, MA, 01701, or by visiting American Cancer Society.