Online Obituaries

Elizabeth Dolores (Critch) Dole, passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the age of ninety-five in Holyoke, Ma., with her family at her side. She was predeceased by her husband of fifty-nine years, Gordon Shattuck Dole, who died in 2004. After her husband passed away, she moved to Loomis House in Holyoke, MA and was kindly cared for by the staff for the past eleven years, who nicknamed her “Saucy Aussie”. Elizabeth was the youngest child of Francis JC Critch and Violet “Letty” Agnes Critch, nee Egan, and was born in Geraldton, Western Australia.

She graduated from Sacred Heart High School and the University of Western Australia in Perth, WA. Prior to marriage, during WWII, she taught school in Wyalkatchem, Western Australia. She had met her husband when sister, Edith, brought home a few American sailors for a rare home cooked meal. Gordon served in the Navy on the USS Bonefish. The wedding took place on July 28, 1944, in Fremantle, Western Australia. At the end of the war, Elizabeth emigrated to the US with other war brides, crossing continent of Australia on the “bridal train” to board the SS Lurline in Sydney. She arrived in San Francisco on April 6, 1946, then, crossed the continental USA, arriving in New England to meet her new family and husband. She was an active member in her local parishes of St. Timothy’s in Bristol, NH and St. Louis in Webster, MA. She was a homemaker, a talented seamstress, an avid knitter, knitting Christmas stockings and afghans for family members. She enjoyed baking, embroidery, gardening, reading, crossword puzzles and Scrabble. She delighted in challenging her husband with a seven letter words.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her siblings, Harry and wife, Vibeke, Mary, Jack, Cecil and wife Pat, and Edith and husband Jack Scott. She is survived by her three daughters, Rosemary and husband, Peter Chaban of Chicopee, MA, Jennifer John and fiancé, Richard “Fitz” Fitzpatrick of Milan, NH and Catherine and husband, Bruce Martin of Reading, MA. She leaves her six grandchildren, Aimee Dion Crisanti, Patricia Dion Reiter, Jessica Dion Benoit, Pamela John Laflamme, Gretchen John Taillon and Benjamin Martin, 8 great grandchildren, Samuel and Ryan Crisanti, Ruby Reiter, William Benoit, Matthew and Katherine Laflamme and Ethan and Evan Taillon. She leaves behind her sister-in-law, Frances Critch Hayes, Jack’s widow, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Loomis Communities Memory Care, 298 Jarvis Ave. Holyoke, MA 01040 and Minot-Sleeper Library, 25 Pleasant St., Bristol, NH 03222.