Obituary of Betty Hockmeyer

Betty (Lane-Cole) Hockmeyer passed away unexpectedly on Monday morning, February 8, 2010 at the Wakefield Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wakefield, Massachusetts. She was 88 years old. Betty worked for 20 years as a sales representative for Burpee Seeds until she retired at the age of 86. Her territory included all of New England. She set up displays, provided customer support and her clients ranged from small farmers markets to the national chains like Agway and Wal-Mart. Her product knowledge and warm personality, loveable character, made her a favorite of the store managers who nicknamed her “Betty Burpee”. Betty grew up in Pittsfield, Maine. She was a graduate of Colby Sawyer College and then went onto to the New England Conservatory, where she was a pianist and vocalist. She lived for many years in Andover, MA, settling in Milford New Hampshire for the last 20 years. She was a hotel manager at the Sheraton Rolling Green in Andover, MA and Best Western in Westminster, MA. She summered on Capital Island in Booth Bay Harbor, Maine. She made sure that all her children learned to sail, enjoyed skiing and hiking and was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club. She volunteered at hospitals, participated in Community Theater where she sang, played the piano, and danced. She was fun, adventuring, encouraging, and loving. She leaves a loving family, limitless friends, and endless memories. Betty was the beloved wife of the late Vincent Hockmeyer. She was the loving mother of Nancy Barnes & her husband Paul of Woburn, MA, Robert Cole & his wife Cynthia of Glastonbury, CT, William Cole & his wife Melissa of Washington, NH, Deborah Cole of Kingston, MA, Vincent Hockmeyer, Jr. of NH, Mark Hockmeyer of Brazil, Erik Hockmeyer of CA, and Craig Hockmeyer of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Sister of the late Joseph Lane and Janet Johnson. Also survived by 9 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 13 at 1 o’clock at the Pilgrim Congregational Church of Nashua, 4 Watson St., Nashua, NH. A reception will follow the service in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Betty’s name may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org.