Elizabeth A. "Betty Ann" Cross

Elizabeth “Betty Ann” (McDermott) Cross, 87, passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, Sept 16, surrounded by her six cherished children.

Betty Ann grew up in North Arlington, NJ, the fourth of her parents’ five children. Although she lived in Massachusetts for 55 years, part of her heart was always in New Jersey, attending Queen of Peace Church and School; vacationing at the Jersey Shore.

Betty Ann, loving and devoted wife of 61 years, is predeceased by her husband, Fredric J. Cross, Sr., as well as all of her siblings, and so we are sure a wonderful celebration in heaven is currently underway.

Married in 1959, Betty Ann and Rick bought their first house in Fords, New Jersey. Upon moving to Massachusetts in 1971, they made their home in Framingham where Betty Ann ruled the roost as a wonderful homemaker and exceptionally loving mother of six. They later built Betty Ann’s dream house in Easton, and in retirement lived in a lovely house in Wrentham. In each community, they were faithful parishioners and communicants at their local Catholic church.

Betty Ann prided herself on having a beautiful home, full of family and friends, with a warm welcome to anyone who might want to join the fun. She threw memorable parties, especially when family came up from New Jersey and New York. Most notably our legendary Thanksgivings, starting with her incredible once-a-year Thanksgiving stuffing and spanning the entire four day weekend, a tradition we continue to this day. Betty Ann is the original and evermore “hostess with the mostess.”

Betty Ann and Rick were avid vacationers with favorite destinations in Hawaii, Ireland, Bermuda, Long Beach Island NJ, Branson MO, the Caribbean and many trips to Walt Disney World with their children and grandchildren. Closer to home, they enjoyed years of vacationing in Newport, RI and, on any given sunny day, would take a drive to the Cape for lunch at the Dunbar Tea House in Sandwich.

To know Betty Ann is to know a comforting hot cup of tea, a pantry full of goodies, a cabinet full of Lenox, a car packed for a road trip and a cozy winter day by the fireplace. She will be remembered by all of us as the heart of the home.

Betty Ann is survived by a huge, close knit family all of whom have always lived no more than 40 minutes away, encircling her with the love we wanted to return to her, a reflection of all she had given us: daughter Maureen Garron and her husband Ron of Plainville; son Rick Cross Jr. and his wife Diane of Bellingham, daughter Patricia Ryan and her husband Bill of Ashland, daughter Betsy Larson and her husband Tom of Easton; daughter Eileen Heffernan and her husband Tommy of Walpole; son Kevin Cross and his wife Wendy of Easton. She is also most proudly survived by 19 grandchildren: Charlie, Fredric, Brian, Nora, Patrick, Timmy, Rose,Thomas, Courtney, Elizabeth, Teddy, Paul, Colleen, Grace, Amy, Brendan, Lily, Mary and Faith as well as five great grandchildren: Savannah, Ronan, Maeve, Evelyn and Vivian. A true matriarch, her family was her pride and joy. 

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields, and Until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Visiting hours will be on Monday, Sept. 21 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home, 33 Cottage St, Franklin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10:30am, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on South St, Wrentham. 

Burial will follow in Wrentham Center Cemetery, where Betty Ann will rest forever beside her beloved Rick ♾️-♾

“Love is All You Need."

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