Elizabeth M. Standring

The family of Elizabeth M. “Betty” Standring (née Enos), of Bedford, New Hampshire, is saddened to share her sudden passing on Monday, April 21 at the age of 97. She was a cherished mother, grandmother, aunt and friend whose tenacity and sharp mental acumen remained intact through the very end.

Born nearly a century ago in Riverside, Rhode Island, Elizabeth grew up on her family’s chicken farm in Swansea, Massachusetts with her parents and three brothers. As a young child, she attended grade school in the one room schoolhouse down the street, explored the neighborhood with her brothers and helped out around the farm; it was a modest life that was irreparably changed when her mother unexpectedly passed away in December 1942.

Despite this loss, Elizabeth managed to become a star student at Swansea’s Joseph Case High School, excelling at English and US History and serving as the head cheerleader and editor-in-chief of the yearbook. After graduation, Elizabeth joined the workforce as a secretary at Arnold, Hoffman & Co. in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It was here that she met her future husband: a young lab assistant named Edgar “Ed” Standring.

Elizabeth and Ed were married at St. Dominic’s in Swansea in 1956 and moved into a small house not far from where Elizabeth grew up. In the years following, Elizabeth traded in her nine-to-five job to become a full-time homemaker and mother, welcoming her and Ed’s three beloved children, Elizabeth, Patricia and Peter, between 1961 and 1965.

As the young family grew, so did Ed’s career opportunities, and the Standrings soon relocated to Ringwood, New Jersey, where Elizabeth thrived as a mom. From volunteering in her children’s classrooms, PTA and scouts to helping with projects and hosting birthday parties, Elizabeth was an involved parent who doted on her children and did everything she could to run a smooth household. As her children entered adolescence, she became a regular chaperone for trips to the mall, concerts and college tours, as well as a mainstay on the sidelines of the soccer field.

Following Ed’s retirement in 1986, he and Elizabeth left Ringwood and began splitting their time between their house on Lake Winnipesaukee and their condo in Palm Harbor, Florida. Elizabeth cherished both of these homes and their beautiful scenery; wherever she was, she enjoyed going for long walks while listening to her favorite CDs/cassette tapes and dining out with friends. Above all else, she loved hosting her children and their young families for holidays and vacations and took great pleasure in taking care of everything they could possibly need during their stays, whether it meant going grocery shopping before they woke up, doing their laundry while they were at the beach or cooking their dinner in the evenings.

Being a grandmother was one of Elizabeth’s greatest joys. From the moment her eldest granddaughter Meghan was born in 1990, she could always be counted on to babysit and would go to great lengths to attend her grandchildren’s dance recitals, sporting events and academic ceremonies, whether they were in New York or New Hampshire. As a grandmother, she was very generous with her time and always made sure that her grandchildren had everything they needed (even if that meant tracking down a super rare Beanie Baby at the height of Beanie Baby mania).

In her later years, Elizabeth made a point to stay physically and mentally active; so much so that strangers were often surprised to learn her age. She was a voracious reader who always had a newspaper or novel in hand (usually a newly released crime procedural or espionage thriller) as well as a crossword puzzle enthusiast who always looked forward to doing the Boston Globe Sunday puzzle. A New Englander through and through, she relished early morning trips to Market Basket, drinking Dunkin Donuts coffee and cheering on the New England Patriots (and later the Kansas City Chiefs as a fan of Patrick Mahomes!).

Even as many of her peers were slowing down, she stayed remarkably busy, walking as far as her mobility would let her, working on tabletop puzzles and visiting with friends and neighbors, all while staying on top of her text messages and using her iPad to research upcoming books and connect with friends on Facebook. She loved arranging her Mother’s Day and birthday flowers and held a deep appreciation for the song “Hallelujah” – both testaments to her enduring eye for beauty.

Blessed with a resilient spirit and a long life of good health, Elizabeth was proud to live independently and insisted on remaining as self-sufficient as possible for as long as she could, maintaining her daily routine up until her final days. She leaves behind an extensive legacy and will be deeply missed by many.

Elizabeth was predeceased by her parents, Manuel and Mary Irene Enos (née McGuire), her brothers, Raymond, Robert and Richard Enos, and her husband, Edgar Standring. She is survived by her three children, Elizabeth Hagerty of Middletown, NY, Patricia Standring of Litchfield, NH, and Peter Standring of South Harting, England; along with her six grandchildren, Meghan, Christopher, Kevin, Molly, Seren and Rowan.

Per Elizabeth’s final wishes, funeral services will not be held. Instead, her remains will be cremated and interred in the Enos family plot at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Swansea.

In lieu of flowers, Elizabeth’s family asks that memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association in her memory.

On behalf of Elizabeth, her family would like to offer heartfelt thanks to the tireless nurses and staff at Elliot Hospital and Mt. Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for providing her with tremendous comfort and support in her final days.