Avis A. Beaulieu
September 23, 1962 ~ April 13, 2018
DANVERS - Avis A. (Surette) Beaulieu, 55, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2018 surrounded by her family in the Kaplan Family Hospice House. She was the beloved wife of Johnny E. Beaulieu, with whom she shared 32 years of marriage.
Born in Saugus on September 23, 1962, Avis was the daughter of Barbara (Dulong) Surette of Beverly, MA, and the late Joseph H. Surette. She was raised and educated in Lynn, MA; she graduated from Lynn Classical High School, and went on to earn an associate’s degree from Mount Ida College and a bachelor’s degree from Endicott College. Avis worked in banking for many years as the director of human resources and as executive assistant to the president; she was employed by Beverly National and more recently, Bank Gloucester.
In addition to her husband Johnny and her mother Barbara, she is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Christopher (“CJ”) and Jodi Beaulieu of Oakdale, CT, and Ethan and Allison Beaulieu of Danvers, MA; her sister and brother-in-law, Jeannine and Barry Acheson of Danvers, MA; her brother, Matthew Surette of Bedford, NH; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Vincent Surette.
Avis’s funeral service will be celebrated on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 11:30 A.M. at C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers, MA. Burial will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Sylvan St., Danvers, MA. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 4 to 8 P.M., in the funeral home. Relatives and friends are invited. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Avis’s name to Beverly Bootstraps, 35 Park St., Beverly, MA, 01915.
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Avis, you are the love of my life and that will never change
Love always and forever, Johnny
One of my fav pics of Avis, me and the girls ❤️
I can’t even put into words how special Avis is – she was beautiful inside and out and was the best Auntie and sister in law – so many special memories – we love you Avis!💕
Love you Always Auntie! Love Ryleigh and Alexa 💕
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
It was a privilege to have been able to work with Avis for the last 5 years. She was a woman of amazing strength, courage and dignity. She was a true source of inspiration for all of us who knew her. She will always be with us here at Lahey, as her spirit and vitality affected us all with a sense of purpose. This was her gift to us, for which we are grateful. We will miss her deeply but will carry on with her in our hearts and our memories.
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
I am so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of knowing Avis. Cocktails in her honor for the week. Cheers my friend 🥂
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
I worked with Avis at Danversbank and BankGloucester. She treasured her family and I always looked forward to her new picture on her calendar every month! Of course it was always a photo of John or the boys and their wives.❤️ When I got breast cancer Avis was there for me for support. The way she faced this disease was an inspiration and it was a good learning experience for me to help me cope with cancer. My heart is broken at her passing and I will treasure our friendship always. My deepest sympathies to you all!
Avis started as my co-worker at BNB but grew to be one of my best friends. Over the past couple of days, I have read all of the positive things people have posted on Facebook. They are all true. Avis was one of the best! Despite what was going on in her life, she was always there for everyone else. She was my cheerleader when I was going through my own life challenges. We shared many laughs as well as tears over the years. I will miss that smile. I will miss our lunches with ET. I will miss our talks. I will miss you. I love you, my friend. May you rest in peace. Love, Patti
I had the privilege of meeting and working with Avis when I started working at Beverly National Bank back in 1998 until the buy out in 2010. She always had a smile on her face even when she was having a bad day. She was always one of the event planners for the bank and did a fabulous job. She has touched so many people in different ways and will be missed greatly by everyone. RIP Avis
So sorry to hear this…I thought she had beaten this. I have such fond memories playing in her playroom as a child. It was an awesome place.
John – Avis and you had an amazing love story that was a pleasure to witness.
Such fond memories of our cousin Avis and her siblings. Every summer they would visit us in Nova Scotia ,Seven kids in the house and we all got along we,loved each other !!. Avis was such a good soul, kind hearted person,,great personality, caring, and had a sense of humour just like her dad ,my uncle Hector .As we grew into young adults the visits became fewer ,but even though we didn’t see each other every summer we still had a connection .I will miss my cousin it hurts to think no more summer visits to Novi .
Rest in peace my beautiful ,funny ,cousin ,I will miss you here in Novi !!
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
I met Avis when we were about 12 or 13 years old. I’m not sure if she ever talked about the CB days, but what a wonderful time that was. Avis and I, and a few others, got into a lot of mischief together. Thinking about those days brings a smile to my face. We’ve kept in touch through the years on fb. I would also run into her at different places having a cocktail. She was such a special person. Anyone that had the privilege to know Avis, is a better person. Peace, love and rest, my friend. To Avis’ family, please cherish all of the happy times, special times, and private times. I am truly sorry for the loss of such a special woman.
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
It seems like only yesterday that we were little kids sitting at the kitchen table having dinner, or being in the living room calling out that we had the “black chair” (a large black rocking chair that also spun around. When you got out of the chair you “called” that you had it so when you came back you got to sit in it again. It was a source of many disagreements). And then there was the time when our Dad brought home a mini-TV with a 3 inch screen, yes 3 inches. The three of us sat on the floor about a foot away from the TV (it was the only way you could see the screen). Since it was the 60s our Dad came over and said “What did I tell you kids about sitting so close to the TV, now back up!!” Well I guess we know where Avis got her sense of humor.
And Avis’s humor continued into her adult life as well. At one family holiday gathering Avis said that she had arranged for her and some of her friends to visit a psychic to get their fortunes read and their futures told. But, there was a problem. About a month after the session had been set up Avis got a call from the psychic saying that she had to reschedule because something had come up (can you see where this was going?). Me, Avis and Jeannine spent 15 to 20 minutes laughing and joking about how good of a psychic this woman was if she didn’t know she was going to have to reschedule when the appointment was first booked!!!
Avis was always the life of the party and I will miss the banter and joking we had. We always had a great time and you could always count on Avis to make sure others did too.
Rest in peace Avis. I’m sure you’re sharing the good times with Dad, Vincent and all our other family members. And remember, don’t sit too close to the TV!!! All my love, Matt
Matt,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Shawn
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
I am so sorry. Avis was one of a kind, beautiful and loving, and so much fun to be around. We were friends in HS so I thought I would share a senior prom photo.
My deepest condolences to all of the family. May her smile lighten your heavy hearts.
I am at a complete loss of words. All I can say is that every memory I have of Avis involves laughter and kindness and my heart is broken for her family.
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
Sorry to hear what what to her the family are in my prayers
John-so sorry for your loss we have more fun at our BNB parties, Avis was a rock for us all at the bank and a confidant, she will be missed, my prayers for you and your family –
Aruba and Queens Jewelers will forever remind me of Avis❤️❤️
dear Johnny, from your cousins, Gerry Doiron’s kids – patty, dennis, marie and peter – and our Mom, Terry Doiron, we are all thinking of you and your family right now.
My deepest sympathy to John and family. Avis you were such a role model and you fought till the end . You prove medicine wrong and for that I respect you and I will deeply miss you especially your amazing smile and positive attitude . RIP Avis you are smiling at us know ❤️.
Joann Vicente
I am so sorry! Words cannot express my sympathy. Avis was an amazing, strong woman! I will never forget her remarkable positive attitude and always had a smile on her face! I am blessed to have known her and her lively spirit lives on in everyone she touched. Her smile on her face regardless of her pain made me want to be a better person. Avis will be missed as she truly was loved by many! 💕😇
I am so terribly sorry to hear that Avis passed away. My deepest sympathy to all her family & friends. Having spent many weeks during summer vacations her family, I have many fond memories of her. I will always remember her smile and sense of humor.
I have been friends with Avis since we worked together at the law firm in Waltham in 1986. We had so many great times! She was the first one I called when I found out I was pregnant. We traveled together a long time ago, before we had children. We were so close back in those days!
Brian and I are so heartbroken that she is gone. John, you both were so amazing together. We had so many memories back then, so many fun times. The road trip to Jaypeak for Octoberfest, THAT WE MISSED!! The canoe trip that the boys went on and Avis and I shopped and spent time together.
John, our thoughts and prayers are with you, the boys and their wives, and the rest of the family. You have the most incredible guardian Angel watching over all of you.
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu
Johnny,Jeannine,Matt and family: We are so sorry to hear of Avis’s passing. Although we haven’t spent much time with her recently, we have many great memories of road trips to Jay Peak or Hershey Park in our younger days. Avis will be deeply missed by all that knew her! RIP Avis! John and Janet Mahar
To Johnny, CJ, Ethan, Barbara, Matt, Jeannine and all family members, friends, and loved ones; my sincere condolences. I wish there were words that would help make this easier for all of you, but I know of none. I can only offer my prayers for each of you and ask God to give you strength and to watch over and protect you. God bless
Terri Surette
John and family, my heart breaks for you all. Avis had a fire about her that I’m sure brightened your days. You were all her world. John, the true love between the two of you was obvious to all. Hoping memories help heal and find you peace. Cindy Ascolillo
Beaulieu Family-
What a tremendous service today. Avis’ sister’s letter was stunning. We laughed, we cried, we held our breaths, exhaled and laughed again.
I sat in my car as I watched you carry her purple urn out of the funeral home. There are no words for how moving that was. Our hearts were both lifted and wrenched in that moment.
At the graveside where we all gathered in a circle, as the priest said his final words and we shared the Perfect Prayer, the sun came out. I hope you felt it. I hope you felt Her.
I (we) have only briefly lived your journey because we worked with John, but his love and dedication and stories make it feel like we’ve known Avis forever. The world is a little more dim it may seem, but she’s shining a light down. We are all better for knowing her and now have one more amazing guardian angel.
We have known Avis for many years, dating back to the days of Camp Fire Girls and CB radios. Although we drifted apart over the years, we were fortunate enough to reconnect through Facebook. It was so much fun comparing notes on Mother of the groom dresses, what songs to dance to, etc.
We loved following the adventures of Avis & Johnny with their travels and their family events. We wouldn’t see them locally, but we would bump into them at Frugal Fannie’s with a carrigae full of dresses for Avis. Johnnny just smiled.
We also shared some bad habits with them, posting pictures of travel destinations and our favorite drinks. Cheers!
Avis truly impressed us with her strength and courage as she fought her fight. She always had a positive attitude and never gave up. Most importantly, this beautiful person taught us a very important lesson…to live each day to the fullest.
Our deepest sympathies to Johnny, the kids, and their families.
E-clink our friend…purple flowers & pretty drinks will always put a smile on our faces and remind us of you!
Love,
Nancy & Charlie Anastos
Thanks Lenny
Lit a candle in memory of Avis A. Beaulieu