Longtime resident, artist, active in Congregational Church
Anita and Bill Tilley with their six great-grandchildren (Courtesy photo)
Anita Emilia (Honey) Tilley, 84, died Sept. 27, 2013, at the Wingate Healthcare Facility in Haverhill, Mass. Anita was born in Lexington, Mass., on Aug. 1, 1929, daughter of the late August W. and Elin B. (Halgren) Carlson and resided in Harvard for more than 50 years. She was predeceased by her husband Bill in January, 2013. She was also predeceased by her brother Norman A. Carlson in 2006.
Anita is survived by her sons Douglas J. and his wife Patty of Merrimac, Mass., and Bruce A. Tilley of Harvard; one stepson William L. and his wife Sandra of Leesburg, Va., and one stepdaughter Rhonda J. and her husband Steven Miller of Beaver Creek, Ohio; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored.
After graduating from the Pierce Secretarial School at the Wentworth Institute, Anita worked at law firm Yont and Yont in Boston before going to work at GenRad in Concord. There she met her husband while participating in the bowling league.
Anita enjoyed reading, gardening, and entertaining her family and friends. For many years she took lessons at the Worcester Art Museum, where she studied oils, pastels, and watercolors. Anita had the pleasure of painting while traveling down the Seine River. She and her husband vacationed in Anguilla for more than 25 years.
Anita was a member of the Harvard Congregational Church, where she served on many committees. She also assisted in Girl Scouts, the Harvard Woman’s Club, and the neighborhood “stitch and bitch” gathering.
Visiting hours will be held at the Harvard Congregational Church on Friday, Oct. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., and the Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Worcester Art Museum Scholarship Fund, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609.
