Beverly E. Acheson

Alfred, MaineBeverly E. Acheson, 58, of Gore Road, died Tuesday at her home following a brave fight against cancer. She was born in Sanford, November 5, 1942, the daughter of Earland and Harriet Carmichael Gerry. She attended Newfield Elementary School, St. Joseph's Academy in Portland, and graduated from Sanford High School in 1960. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Maine, Orono, and an Associates degree in Business Management from the University of Southern Maine, Portland. She also worked at the University of Maine Library. She was married to Dr. Richard D. Acheson, Sr. for 18 years, and had lived in Orono, Portland, Greenland, NH and Birmingham, Alabama before moving back to her home town of Newfield in 1978. She had resided in Alfred since 1980.She worked as a group leader at Sweetser Homes in Sanford and Saco, was a consumer lender at Norstar Bank and was a finance manager at Prime Auto in Saco. She had worked in sales for Homecrafters in Saco, and was branch manager for Schiavi Homes. Most recently, she was park manager of Tara Estates Retirement Community, East Rochester, NH, retiring in 2000, due to ill health. While at Tara Estates, she was instrumental in designing the recreation hall, and will be honored by the planting of a memorial garden in her memory. She was a Hospice Volunteer, and in June of 2001, was featured on "Buddy to Buddy" with Cindy Williams on WCSH. She spoke about the "Guide to Managing Your Own Health Care" that she had written to help others attain the highest level of medical care.The special joy in her life was spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her family shares that she was a very determined person, and was never known to give-up on anything she undertook. She was comforted by the support of many friends. Beverly was gifted artistically, and enjoyed creating a warm home environment. She enjoyed sewing, pottery and her flower gardens. She had taken great pleasure in trips to Monaco, Paris, Italy, Hawaii and Nova Scotia.In addition to her parents, she is survived by three sons, Richard D. Acheson, Jr. of Arundel, Michael J. Acheson, of Norfolk, VA and Matthew T. Acheson of Biddeford; a daughter, Melissa L. Sodonis of Knoxville, TN; three brothers, James C. Gerry of Waterboro, Bernard W. Gerry of Limerick and Eugene L. Gerry of Newfield; two sisters, Marjorie "Brese" Calabrese of Maui, Hawaii and Gloria J. Dyer of Newfield; and nine grandchildren, Chloe, Marius and Ethan Sodonis, Jocelyn, Cullen, Erin, Gracie, Abigail and Bridget Acheson. She was predeceased by a grandson, Brett Acheson. She is also survived by two aunts, Marilyn Anderson of Pinellas Park, FL and Bette Vradenburg of Westmister, MD; and several nieces and nephews.Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 6-8 PM at Heald Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. A funeral service will be held at 10 AM Saturday at the Alfred Parish Congregational Church. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Newfield. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in Beverly's name to American Cancer Society, 52 Federal Street, Brunswick, ME 04011