Beverly E. (Thornton) Sanderson

Beverly (Thornton) Sanderson, 81, of North Street in Whately, passed away peacefully on November 30th at Hospice of the Fisher Home after a period of declining health.
Bev was born on July 17, 1941 in Amherst, the third of seven children to Reginald and Dorothy (Robinson) Thornton. She attended Amherst schools where she excelled in sports and was a badminton champion. In 1958 she met the love of her life, Alan Sanderson. They were married a month after she graduated from high school. They made their home at the family farm on North Street in Whately, where she spent the rest of her life surrounded by the ones she loved.
Bev worked for a short period of time at UMass as a secretary, then leaving to raise her children. She began working part time at the Whately Post Office in 1964, and was promoted to Postmaster in 1981 - a job she held for 20 years. Time at the post office was never work for Bev, she enjoyed talking with her friends and meeting and greeting everyone in town. Often she would have your mail ready as you walked in the door. Bev was a staple of the Whately community.
Bev and Alan led a wonderful life together. They traveled frequently all around the country. They loved playing cards with friends, especially cribbage - and she would let everyone know that she was the one who taught him how to play. After 54 years, the love that they had for each other is one that most people can only hope to emulate.
The most important thing in Bev’s life was undoubtedly her family. She spearheaded every family event - holidays, birthdays, reunions, and just getting together for the sake of being together. She loved cooking and baking with her grandchildren - teaching them how to roll the perfect snickerdoodle and master the hamburger hanky-pank. They all had their favorite foods that she remembered and would make just for them. The homestead on North Street was always bustling with people. Bev made everyone feel special no matter how long she had known you. Her door was always open to anyone who wanted to stop in and say hello, or needed a shoulder to lean on. She always had a sympathetic ear and heart full of love - glug, glug, glug, a bushel and a peck.
Bev and Alan were fortunate to see their sons build their homes next door to the homestead on North Street. The grandchildren were a constant presence in the house, always running around the rumpus room with Gram’s calm presence watching out of the corner of her eye. Each one got a “Gram Special Day” every year, where they could do anything they wanted, as long as they were spending time with her. Her great-grandchildren loved spending time with her as well, showing off their newly learned talents or just being together.
She is survived by her sons Alan Jr. and his wife Cindy, and Brad and his wife Kalani. Her grandchildren, Tara Sanderson (Ben Lewis), Meagan Murphy (Dan), Jake Sanderson (Kirstin Miner), John Guertin (Ali) and Samantha Braastad (Andrew). She is also survived by the littlest loves of her life, her great-grandchildren: Bryson and Corey Lewis, Virginia and Bridget Murphy, Jimmy and Alex Guertin, and Dakota Braastad. She is also survived by her brothers Tom and Harry Thornton. She also leaves many extended family and friends, who she cared deeply about. Besides her parents and husband, Bev was predeceased by her brothers Dick, Brad, and Glen and her sister Mary Jean.
Bev’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the incredible home health aides and the wonderful staff of Fisher Home who were always there for Bev.
A memorial service will be held Friday, December 9th at 11:00 at the Whately Congregational Church, with burial at the Whately Center Cemetery immediately following. In lieu of flowers, Bev’s family asks for donations to be made to the West Whately Chapel Building Fund in care of Adelia Bardwell PO Box 83 Whately, MA 01093 or Hospice of the Fisher Home 1165 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst MA 01002-1324.