Pauline E. Bacon Obituary (2014)

On Tuesday December 9th, 2014 Pauline E. Bacon died peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital at the age of 87. As a newlywed, Pauline made a passing comment of ’wanting to learn how to paint with oils’ to her husband Earl. With his encouragement, within a week she was enrolled in a painting class at the Lynn YMCA and had all the equipment she needed to develop her innate talent. She studied with various artists over the next few years and was soon teaching oil painting at the Lynn and many other North Shore YMCAs. Pauline continued studying with many accomplished artists in the area eventually transitioning to and perfecting her watercolor skills. In late 2013, Pauline retired from teaching at the Greater Lynn Senior Center and Lynnfield Senior Center after approximately 20 years due to health issues but remained connected to the art world through weekly contact with her chosen successor, Bill Deveny. Pauline wishes her former students the best and encourages them to love their chosen medium. Pauline was a founding member of the Greater Lynn Arts and Crafts Society and held the position of Treasurer for nearly 2 decades. She was a member of the Lynnfield Art Guild serving as President for five years, and was a member of at least six other local art organizations. Pauline has participated in many group exhibits and her work has been featured in numerous ‘one man’ shows across New England. She has received over 50 awards including Best in Showand the Grumbacher Award. Reviews of her work have been featured in the Lynn Daily Item and the Gloucester Times. Pauline regularly visited Kennebunkport, Monhegan, and North Haven in Maine, the Jackson area of New Hampshire as well as scenic areas of the Massachusetts North Shore where she delved into plein air painting with a passion. Pauline was born in Saugus, MA, the youngest of seven children. She attended St. Jean’s School in Lynn and continued her education at local colleges and through General Electric. Pauline met her husband at O’Brien’s Dance Hall in Lynn where he greeted her with a most unusual line after taking her hand, “what have you been doing – frying snowballs” to which she mentally replied “this one’s got to go”. They courted nearly 4 years before he proposed to her on the shore of Messalonskee Lake (Maine) then flew to the island of Trinidad to be married at a leper colony by Father Barry, a close friend. Pauline worked for Electric Mutual Insurance Company for a number of years before starting a family and providing home typing services for General Electric, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other local businesses. She returned to Electric Insurance/Electric Mutual in the early 1970s and retired as an officer of the company. Pauline is predeceased by her husband Earl, her son William, her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by her daughter Linda Bacon and her husband Wayne Cormier; daughter-in-law Janice Zorian Bacon; grandchildren Richard Cormier, Sarah Cormier, William Bacon and his expectant wife Danielle, and, Alex Bacon. Pauline was excited about the news of her first great-granddaughter and was saddened to know she would likely not be around to hold her. She is also survived by one beloved sister-in-law Evelyn, most of her nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Pauline was an artist and teacher; remember her with a brush in her hand. A Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility from 1:00 until 4:00 PM with a service of remembrance at 3:30 PM. Her funeral will be held on Monday at 8:00 AM from the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church, Lynn at 9:00 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at the Lawry Brothers-Wheeler , 26 Church St., Oakland, Maine from 10:30 until 11:30 AM with services at 11:30 AM. A Spring burial will be held in Sawtelle Cemetery in Sidney Maine. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Sawtelle Cemetery Association, c/o Pam Bacon, 16 Hosta Lane, Sidney, ME 04330, or, the Lynnfield Art Guild, c/o Carol MacKendrick, PO Box 12, Lynnfield, MA 01940. Local arrangements are by Lawry Brothers-Wheeler, 26 Church Street, Oakland, ME. www.lawrybrothers.com