| Memories of Frances Rae
house from had raised chickens in the attic. She said she had quite a time getting it cleaned up. When my grandfather died we moved down the street to the house next to the mill and lived with my grandmother for several years and then moved back here. My father, Asa Augustus Westcott, was selectman for around thirty years. Victor Pepper served for many years with him. One of my fondest memories was Christmas. The Drapers would give all the children a gift, such as an orange or a small box of Christmas candy. We used to skate on Spindleville Pond. We couldn't skate there too often, though. I think it was because of the current. I remember sliding and tobogganing down Mill Street. Roberta Simmons' father used to worry. He thought we'd end up in the pond. My father had horses and a sleigh. He called the sleigh a "pung." Dad's farm covered part of what is now the golf course and also Laurelwood. He had hay for the horses and cows. If it were wet, it could smolder, so we dried it in the fields. We used to like to slide down on it, but Dad wouldn't let us because the cows wouldn't eat it then. We used to put it on a hay rack in the barn. Dad had as many as a dozen cows some years. He also raised pheasants for the state. They would pay farmers to raise them and when they were old enough someone would come and take them and release them in the woods. Evelyn Westcott, an aunt, lived on Greene Street. She had an electric car. She let me drive it one day. I can remember teaching kindergarten at the Community House. Margaret Stanas and I taught there in the '50s while Memorial School was being built. We were up on the top floor. ************************* M. Frances Rae M. Frances (Westcott) Rae, 95 , of Hopedale died Monday Feb. 21, 2011 in Beaumont Skilled Nursing and Rehab. Ctr., Northbridge. She was the wife of the late Robert G. Rae. A lifelong resident of Hopedale, Mrs. Rae was a kindergarten and first grade teacher for over 30 years in the Hopedale public school system. She was born May 21, 1915 in Hopedale, the daughter of the late Asa A. and Marion (Dewing) Westcott and was a graduate of Hopedale High School, the former Wheelock Normal School for Teaching, and later earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Worcester State College. Mrs. Rae was a member of the First Congregational Church in Milford, the Rosalie Rebekah Lodge #116 in Medway and volunteered in many capacities at Tri-Valley Elder Services in Hopedale which included the meals on wheels program, the elder companion program, and serving as a former board member. She had also been a volunteer at the Hopedale public library. She enjoyed music and was a member of the Hopedale Senior Chorus. Mrs. Rae is survived by two daughters Cheryl A. and her husband Earl Dufresne of Milford and Diane S. and her husband Kevin Rozak of Hopedale; a daughter-in-law Janet Rae-Sinanian of Sturbridge, 7 grandchildren including Douglas Dufresne, Joshua Rozak, Brianna Rozak, Alyssa Rozak, Heather (Rae) Murray, Justin Rae-Sinanian, and Adam Rae-Sinanian; and 1 great-granddaughter Kassidy Murray. She was predeceased by a son Robert W. Rae-Sinanian who died in 1997. Visiting hours will be held Thursday Feb. 24, 2011 from 4 | 7 PM in the Buma-Sargeant Funeral Home, 42 Congress St., Milford, MA 01757 with the funeral service to follow at 7 PM. Burial will be private in Hopedale Village Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of ones choice. www.bumafuneralhome.com Milford Daily News, February 23, 2011 Memories Menu Spindleville Hopedale Street and Place Names HOME |