Obituary of May M. Harwood

May M. (Bertelson) Harwood passed away on Sunday morning, August 6, 2017 at the age of 91. May was born in Wilmington, the daughter Fredrick and Emily Bertelson. She grew up on the family farm in Wilmington. As a child, she would go to school and then help with chores on the farm. She graduated from Wilmington High School. At the age of 18, she married Gerald Harwood. They lived in Somerville for a period before settling in Billerica in 1969. She worked at Almy’s in Burlington part time and also taught sewing and knitting at her home in Billerica. But for May, she would consider her primary career was that of homemaker. She devoted most of her life to the care of her family and her home. She always placed her family’s needs first and embraced her role as caregiver to all. She was always present for her children, encouraging, consoling, supporting, mending their scrapes and bruises, and celebrating their accomplishments and life decisions. Her greatest joy was seeing her family evolve from her and her husband Gerald, to 4 children, then 10 grandchildren, and then 10 great grandchildren, and all the in-laws that she welcomed so warmly to her family. May enjoyed the family summer home in York Maine. It was the gathering place for her children and grandchildren. It was the welcoming place where they could enjoy summer days, play, laugh, and continue to strengthen the family bond. The memories of York will always hold a special place for May’s family. May also enjoyed wintering in St. Peter’s Florida during her retirement years. Her other interests included oil painting and going to Bingo with her girlfriends. She had a wonderful outgoing personality and enjoyed socializing with all her family and friends. May leaves a legacy of love and devotion to family. May was the beloved wife of 46 years of the late Gerald P. Harwood. She was the loving mother of Gerald Harwood & his wife Kay of Hudson, NH, Paula Barilone & her husband Antonio of Billerica, Kenneth Harwood & his wife Pamela of Mason, NH, and Janet Morris of Dracut & her late husband William. She was the sister of Ellen Winship of St. Petersburg, FL, the late Bernard Bertelson, Veronica Vaughn, and Ida Harwood. May was the proud grandmother of Keith, Jessica, Cheryl, Crystal, Benjamin Harwood, Jodi Pas, Kenneth and Brian Lewis, James Morris, and late Jill Barilone. She was also survived by 10 great grandchildren. A visiting hour will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Saturday, August 12 from 10 to 11am. A funeral service at the funeral home will begin at 11am, and will conclude with a burial in Fox Hill Cemetery, Billerica. Memorials in May’s name may be made to Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, PO Box 222, Rockland, MA 02370 or www.mbcc.org.