Elizabeth E. "Betty" Mackey

Elizabeth “Betty” E. (Gallant) Mackey of Tewksbury, age 89 passed away peacefully at Heatherwood Gracious Retirement Living, surrounded by her loving family on November 14.

She was the beloved wife of the late William F. Mackey, Sr., retired Assistant Chief of Massport Fire and Rescue at Logan Airport.

Born in Chelsea on Jan. 17, 1934, the daughter of the late Louis and Evelyn Gallant, Betty attended Our Lady of Assumption and St. Rose High Schools in Chelsea. She was a top student who proudly played the lead role of “Lucia” in the Our Lady of Fatima high school play.

While working as a secretary in Chelsea, she met her husband Bill; they married a year later. They raised their four children in Tewksbury, where Betty enjoyed the company of family and many dear friends.  She was a devoted stay-at-home mom who later took a part-time job at Andean Imports in Woburn, packing sweaters. Her intelligence and work ethic allowed her to work her way up to Assistant Treasurer, retiring at age 68.

Through 62 years of marriage, Betty enjoyed traveling with her husband, and together they hosted countless holidays, cookouts, lobster bakes by their pool and at their Wells, Maine getaway.

Mostly, Betty cherished simple times around the kitchen table with family and friends. She belonged to the Tewksbury Red Hats and Wamesit Bowling League; she was an avid Boston sports fan who enjoyed reading, sewing, baking and knitting. When the couple moved to Dracut in 2017, Betty was a member of the St. Francis Women’s Connection, where she enjoyed giving back to others.

Her greatest joys in life were her children, grandchildren and great-granchildren, proudly cheering them on at so many events and milestones. They adored “Nana” in return. She also dearly loved her nieces and nephews.

She will be greatly missed by her children, a daughter, Debra Hovanasian and her husband, Jack, of Dracut; sons William F. Mackey, Jr. of Tewksbury, Thomas Mackey, Deputy Chief of Dracut Fire Dept.; Ken Mackey and his wife Sandra of Salisbury. She was the sister of the late Claire Hanlon, Joan DeStefano, Paul and John Gallant; daughter-in-law to the late Richard and Elizabeth Mackey; sister-in-law to the late Edward Hanlon, Anthony DeStefano; Tom, Robert and Richard Mackey, Rita Joyce, Elizabeth Layne, Madeline O’Keefe, Majorie DiManno, Lorraine Fournier.  She leaves a dear sister-in-law, Francine Gallant, and her beloved grandchildren, Ryan, Jade, Karina and Jake Mackey, Jill Hovanasian, Kevin Mackey and his wife Kaitlyn; LeeAnn Coviello and her husband Ryan, Shannon Kulch and her husband Matt; Zach Coleman and his wife Danielle; her beloved great-grandchildren Connor, Robyn, Brooke, Shayne, Madelyn, Noah, Jackson, Jack, Vivienne and Charlotte. She was sadly predeceased by her grandson, William F. Mackey III. She also leaves many beloved nieces and nephews, her “other son” Don Coffin, and her dear Heatherwood friend, Joan Ryan.

The family extends its sincere appreciation to Joelle Webber and the staff of All-in-One Home Healthcare at Heatherwood, who compassionately cared for her like family.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Betty’s visitation at St. Francis Church, 115 Wheeler Rd., Dracut on Saturday from 8:00am until 9:30am followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:00am at the church.  Burial in Tewksbury Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s memory to St. Francis Parish Blessings Bags, PO Box 609, Dracut, MA 01826 or online giving (Blessing Bag Fund) at www.saintfrancis.net.