Elizabeth C. Walker of Marion died peacefully Monday, November 7th at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. She was the daughter of the late Henrique and Mary (Britte) Fernandes and ex-wife of the late Randolph Harvey Walker of Durham, NC.
Betty was born in Marion at her family home. She graduated from Wareham High School and from Kinyon-Campbell School in New Bedford.
Mrs. Walker lived in Boston, New York City, Washington DC and Durham, NC before returning to live in Wareham and Marion. She worked at the Wareham Visiting Nurse’s Office for many years where she met her good friend the late Janet Konavis Tassinari. Betty worked at Otis Air Force Base, first as a Top Security Clearance Communication’s Specialist and then in Payroll where she worked until retirement in 1989.
Elizabeth loved her family and became a valued caregiver to her aging parents and young grandchildren where she passed on her values of higher education and a steadfast work ethic. She was giving and caring to all she touched.
She was an avid golfer and played often with her brothers and sisters especially at the annual Family Golf Tournament. An enthusiastic football and basketball fan, watching any sporting event with her was a joy as she cheered, “Go get’um!” to her favorite team be it the Wareham Tigers, high school, college, or professional sports. She was quite the athlete herself playing defense on her high school basketball team, playing softball with her family and friends and a member of a bowling league showcasing her unique follow through but successful style.
Her love of water and swimming had her visiting “Portagee” Beach and Hathaway’s Pond each summer with her children. That loved turned into a love of water aerobics and exercise walking as time passed.
A dedicated thrifter, she was a Penny Pincher Store enthusiast and would share her bargains to all who would listen! Betty enjoyed watercolor painting and was a fantastic cook. She was famous for her fried chicken and meatloaf recipe. She shared that skill at the Fernandes-Pina family reunions at Washburn Park in Marion until they ended.
Betty was very dedicated and thankful to the Lord for protection and blessings. She was a communicant of St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Marion
Elizabeth was pre-deceased by her brothers, John Teixeira, Hank Fernandes, Jr., Manuel Fernandes; and her sisters Flora Pina, Jean Barbour and Nancy Concholar. Survivors include her sister, Julie Gomes and her husband Tony of Wareham; her brother, Steven Fernandes and his wife Mary of Bourne; her son, Mark Walker and his wife Natasha of Milton; her daughter, Monique Walker Brown and her husband Troy of Wake Forest, NC.; her grandchildren Marcus Walker and his wife Karen of South Gate, CA, Cori Walker and his wife Lupe of Lynwood, CA, Myles Brown of Washington, DC, Imani Walker of Jamaica Plain and Nia Brown of Brooklyn, NY, and many nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham, 2599 Cranberry Hwy. (Rt. 28), Wareham from 9 to 11 am followed by a funeral service at 11 am. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Wareham.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Tribute Research Fund at act.alz.org or by mail at: 225 N. Michigan Ave, Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
