By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Southborough – When Florence Beatrice, 88, lost her oldest son, James, to suicide in 1998, she was devastated. At the time she was living in Natick in the same house she had raised her children. At the request of her remaining children, Anthony, who lives in Milford, and Florence, who lives in Ashland, Beatrice moved to Southborough to be near both of them and their families. In her new home, a condominium built in the Wildwood Lane senior living development, Beatrice found herself among friendly, helpful neighbors who made her feel safe and welcome.
Not long after her arrival in Southborough, Beatrice received a call from the Southborough Senior Center inviting her to come down and take a look around. That initial visit opened the door to many friendships and social activities for Beatrice who now attends biweekly card games and weekly Bingo games.
“Going to the senior center was the best thing I ever did,” she said.
One of the programs for seniors that Beatrice utilized is the Tax Work Off Program. This program allows seniors to work for town departments and receive a $750 reduction off their property taxes. For Beatrice, this meant working at the Town Hall as well as stints at the water department, the library, and the transfer station where she took pride in keeping the Swap Shop clean and organized. Beatrice no longer participates in this program, as she must use a walker and has trouble getting around.
Because of her limited mobility, Beatrice spends some time watching her favorite shows. Not long ago, after watching a program about a woman who “journaled” her entire life for her children, she was inspired to chronicle her own life on (cassette) tape. Locked away in a hidden box are fifteen 90-minute tapes that Beatrice plans to share with her children “sometime down the road.”
“When my children listen to the tapes, they will learn about all the things that I did and didn's do,” she said.
Among other matters, Beatrice shared the story of meeting her husband, Anthony, at the age of fourteen. She discussed their wedding on January 1, 1942, and their first home in Weymouth, a model home they purchased for just $4,000 (with a $500 down payment). Anthony, who was a serviceman, qualified for reduced payments.
Not long after marrying, Beatrice gave birth to her first son, James. Just months later, Anthony was sent to Mississippi with the anticipation of being sent overseas to fight in WWII. Distraught over the thought of her husband going off to war, Beatrice left her young son with her mother and headed to Mississippi to be with her husband. She had planned to be gone for a week, but ended up staying for two and a half months.
In Mississippi, Beatrice was referred to as “The Dirty Yankee.” She lived on a farm in a little room with an iron bed, a small table, a chair and a tiny chest of drawers. There were lizards everywhere, even in the single bathroom that she shared with fifteen other residents. Rent was $10 per week. Except for an abundance of tomatoes, food was scarce. When Beatrice was able to get food, she paid 10 cents for a cup of coffee and five cents for a slice of bread.
With no phones to call home to her mother, Beatrice had to resort to writing. She would write every day. Leaving her baby to be with her husband took its toll on Beatrice who would cry herself to sleep on a regular basis. Anthony was sent overseas to fight in the war after two and a half months together. After a tearful farewell, Beatrice took the train back home to a baby who had forgotten who she was. Anthony would be gone for 3 years.
Beatrice talks in detail about her life experiences on the tapes that sit within the box she keeps locked and hidden. She has endured her share of pain and suffering over the years, caring for her husband until he passed away and the pain of her son's death. Still, she lights up when talking about her grandchildren.
When asked about her greatest life lesson, Beatrice answered, “If you have your health you have everything. Money is not the best thing in the world, it's your health that really matters.”
In the taped chronicles, Beatrice has left her family memories to last a lifetime – and beyond.