Pauline Marie Montgomery passed away February 24, 2024 at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. She was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, July 24, 1937, the first child of the late Arthur M. Montgomery and Thelma M. Watters.
Pauline spent her childhood in Upper Mills, New Brunswick and always expressed such fond memories of her time there. She often recalled long warm summer days picking blueberries with her friends in the fields of Mohannes, New Brunswick, working very hard trying to avoid getting caught. She spoke so fondly of being in the woods all year round with her father, watching him cut wood on the family woodlot in Upper Mills. When she was very young, she was never far away from her dad, and to keep her warm in the cold months while in the woods, he would start a campfire and dip an old can in the St. Croix River to retrieve water to boil a “cup” of tea for her. It must have been so very special for her as she always lovingly described this event to her siblings so many times over her lifetime. Pauline said it was mostly hot milk and sugar, as she never liked tea or coffee.
After moving to Massachusetts from New Brunswick in 1961, Pauline would spend most, if not all, of her vacations visiting friends and relatives back “home,” as she always referred to it. Sometimes she would go two or three times a year bringing back such local goodies like Crosby’s molasses, soldier beans, Mackintosh Toffee, and Ganong Palomine candy bars for her parents and siblings—and, the most important thing, Grand Manan Dulse, a sun-dried purple seaweed eaten by Maritimers. All things that reminded the entire family of their times living in New Brunswick.
Pauline had many talents, ranging from playing sports to knitting. Over many years, she knitted hundreds of sweaters, mittens, socks, hats, and blankets, many of which were delivered to local children in need. She loved knitting sweaters for friends and was always so pleased when someone requested one. She could do anything she put her mind to, from building an addition on her home to baking and gardening.
Pauline attended grade school in Upper Mills and later Milltown High School, graduating in 1958. As a teenager she was a star basketball player and did track and field. She even did javelin throwing, as evidenced by the recent find of a photo article published in the St. Croix Courier from 1956. Pauline was a basketball coach as well in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, winning many tournaments, trophies, and accolades for her team. An avid sports fan, she loved the Boston Red Sox and the women’s UConn Huskies.
She worked for Ware Knitters in New Brunswick and, after arriving in Massachusetts, worked for the original W.T. Grant store on Main Street in Great Barrington, and later was a manager at the Zayres department store for many years. After Zayres was sold, she went to work for Becton Dickinson in Canaan, Conn. and retired from there more than 20 years ago.
Pauline was predeceased by her longtime companion Helyn Billeaux; her parents; three brothers, Alan, Peter, and Robert; and her sister Connie. She leaves two brothers, Paul and John of Massachusetts and Timothy of Vancouver, B.C., as well as her very special lifelong friends, Myrna McConvey and Helen Hubley of New Brunswick.
Cremation has taken place, and the family will announce a burial at a later date. Pauline will be interred in Greenlawn Cemetery along with her poodle, Molly. Condolences may be made through the website of Birches-Roy Funeral Home.
