Annabelle Bears-Cashell

Annabelle Bears-Cashell , age 81 of Tewksbury, formerly of Stoneham, died on Friday January 21 at The Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

She was born in Boston on September 25, 1940 and was the daughter of the late Murdock Bruce and Annabelle (MacPherson) Bears.

Annabelle was a lifelong resident of Stoneham and a proud graduate of the Stoneham High School Class of 1958. After graduating high school Annabelle went to work for Liberty Mutual in Boston. To get to work each day Annabelle relied on the Hudson Bus which she would catch on Pond Street. She loved riding on the bus, and it was during these rides that she met some of her lifelong friends.

After a couple of years Annabelle left Liberty Mutual to work as a legal secretary for Frank Germonte. While working for Frank Germonte, Annabelle found time to attend classes at Catherine Gibbs and to work as a substitute secretary for Stoneham Public Schools. In 1973 Annabelle was hired full time to work in the Business Office and she soon moved into the position of Athletic Director's Secretary. This was a position she loved every day until the day she retired. Annabelle was a True Spartan, and she was so grateful when the Stoneham High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee dedicated their Eighth Induction Ceremony in honor of her long-time service as the secretary to the Athletic Director.

Annabelle raised her four children in Stoneham. She had a daughter Mary, and three sons Sean, Brian, and Mark. Her children all went to Stoneham Public schools and just like Annabelle they became true Spartans. She also had a son in laws Bill and three daughters in laws Maureen, Michelle and Erica that she loved dearly.

Annabelle loved to travel, but what made her trips so special is that they included family which was the most important thing to her. Annabelle would rent a place at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, where her friends and family would all visit. She also spent time at Stinson Lake in Rumney New Hampshire where her whole family would gather at her brother Bruce and sister in-law Sally's. She also loved to visit Anne and her brother-in-law Frank on the Black Water River in Webster, New Hampshire. Another favorite spot was Nippo Lake in Barrington New Hampshire and Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro where she would visit her sister Helen and brother-in-law Terry.

On Thanksgiving the Cashell Family would always go to Newburyport to visit her sister Carol and Richard. While Carol's famous Thanksgiving dinner was always a draw it was family that made the day so special for Annabelle . On big sports days the family would head over her sister Jessie and brother-in-law Don house, those were also great memory for Annabelle .

Annabelle also loved the ocean and enjoyed spending time on the cape visiting her brother, Paul and sister in-law, Janet in Dennis. Later in life she looked forward to escaping the New England winters with her annual trip to Bonita Springs, Florida to spend time with her sister Helen and brother in-law Terry.
Annabelle also loved to read and when not with family and friends, you would find her reading a good book. She especially loved mysteries by James Patterson or Mary Higgins Clark. Playing cards with friends by the pool was another favorite pastime for Annabelle . She was particularly fond of whist and gin rummy.
Annabelle was blessed with seven grandchildren Bill, Joe, Sean, Michael, Emily, Ashley, and Abagail. She loved spending time with them and attended as many of their school events as possible whether it was sports, plays or concerts. She loved to spoil her grandchildren. When having them for sleepovers she would take them shopping, out to eat and to swim her pool.

Annabelle spent the last three years living with her daughter Mary family in Tewksbury. She was predeceased by her son Brian, her brother Bruce and his wife Sally Bears, her sister Jessie and her husband Don Halpin, her sister Helen and her husband Terry Hayes, and her surviving sister Carol and her husband Richard Kendrick, and her brother Paul and his wife Janet Bears.

Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main St., Stoneham on Thursday January 27 from 4-7 p.m. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St., Stoneham on Friday January 28 at 10:00 a.m. Interment, Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation 209 West Central Street Suite 220 Natick, MA 01760. For obit/guestbook, www.mcdonaldfs.com

Friday, January 28
10:00 AM

St. Patrick Church
71 Central St.
Stoneham, MA 02180

Thursday, January 27
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

McDonald - Finnegan Funeral Home
322 Main St.
Stoneham, MA 02180
(781) 439-0405