Alveda E. Pierce

Alveda E. (Thornton) Pierce formerly of Leominster GARDNER, MA — Alveda “Betty” E. (Thornton) Pierce, 94, of Gardner, MA, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2018 at the Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a short illness. Alveda was born in Jesup, GA, daughter of the late Elbert Stanford Thornton and Ethel (Bullard) Thornton on November 12, 1923. She moved to Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1942 and worked for Independent Lock of Fitchburg. She later met and married her husband, James “Buster” J. Pierce. Alveda was a strong spirited woman and was very proud of her Cherokee Indian heritage. Her greatest joys in life were raising and spending time with her six children and sixteen grandchildren. She loved children so much that she babysat her grandchildren and other children well into her 70’s. She loved to watch sports of all kinds, but she would tell you that her favorite sport was basketball, especially the Boston Celtics. She could be seen at every bingo game held at Heywood Wakefield Commons Assisted Living in Gardner, where she resided for 5 years, and was known as their “little Georgia peach”. Alveda is preceded in death by her husband, James Joseph Pierce; her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Currier; her sister, Bertie Lou Dickerson; and her brother, Thomas Willis Thornton. She leaves behind, two sons, John F. Pierce and his wife Judy of Manchester, NH and James M. Pierce of Gardner, MA; three daughters, Patricia A. Flynn of Gardner, MA, Debra A. Cesolini and her husband Gary of Jaffrey, NH, and Donna M. Fiduccia and her husband Anthony of Leominster, MA; one sister, Nina Griffin of Tavares, FL. She also leaves behind sixteen grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and close friends whom she loved and cherished so much. PIERCE — Memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 14th, 2018 at 11:00 am in the Lamoureux-Smith & Poliks Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner, MA 01440. Calling hour will be prior to the memorial at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Saint Bernard’s Cemetery, Fitchburg, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Ave. Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451.