Obituary - Elizabeth "Jill" Bertrand
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Elizabeth "Jill" Bertrand, 71, of Brookfield, MA., died on May 2, 2015, at Anthony Shawnee Hospital, Shawnee, OK, after a brief illness while on a road trip with her husband Gordon.
Jill grew up in South Dartmouth, MA where she attended Friends Academy. She earned her high school diploma at St. Mary's in the Mountains, Littleton, NH, and a B.A. degree in 1965 from her beloved Bennington College.
After college, Jill had numerous jobs - she described her resume as akin to the Yellow Pages!- but derived great satisfaction for many years working as an electrical draftsman designing complex printed circuit boards for Teradyne and other local companies.
From 1971 to 1982, Jill and her husband lived in Union Park in the South End of Boston where she tolerated the vicissitudes of house renovations while working for the South End Project Area Committee and fund raising for the Boston Center for the Arts.
In 1986, Jill realized her dream of owning a horse farm when she and Gordan moved to Brookfield, MA. There she bred and raised prize-winning Morgan horses and operated a boarding stable. She gave generously of her time and resources to the town of Brookfield and her equine affiliations. She will be remembered by her family and many friends as "one of a kind", a generous, empathetic soul appreciated for her funny, quick wit, boundless kindness, and love of life.
Jill is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, her sister Joan Underwood of South Dartmouth, MA, her brother William Underwood, Jr., of Westport, MA, and her aunt Helen Baker of Belmont, MA, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was the daughter of W. Julian and Suzanne Underwood, and sister of the late Lyman D. Underwood.
A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Church on Brookfield Common, Brookfield, MA, at 11:00 AM Friday, June 12, 2015, followed by repast at the church.
Donations may be made in her name to Bennington College, Memorial Gifts, Route 67A, Bennington , VT, 05201 or Friends Academy, 1088 Tucker Rd., North Dartmouth, MA 02747.
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