Doreen L. (Gormley) Rivers

November 19, 2017

Doreen L. Rivers

ORANGE- Doreen L. (Gormley) Rivers, 77, of Walnut Hill, died early Friday morning, November 17, 2017  at the home of her loving caregivers, Bob and Aimee Smith, in their home in Templeton.

Born in Orange on November 27, 1939, she was a daughter of the late William S. and Rose K. (Anderson) Gormley and grew up in Orange  and graduated from Orange High School. She later earned her Bachelor’s degree from Fitchburg State University in Education followed by a Master’s in Science.

In 1961, she married Donald C. Rivers at Bethany Lutheran Church in Orange and they enjoyed 54 years of marriage until his death on July 10, 2015.

Doreen was employed as a teacher for the Athol-Royalston Regional School District for 21 years. She previously had worked for Gardner Middle School.

An avid reader, Doreen also enjoyed greeting card making, making pins and was proud of her Swedish ancestry. Doreen was also a member of the Orange Historical Society.

Doreen is survived by an aunt, Shirley Anderson of Royalston; cousins, Gayle Miller of South Yarmouth, Ralph Anderson of Shrewsbury and Judy Lund of Sarasota, Florida; a half sister, Betty Fowler of North Carolina; and her beloved dog, “Georgia”;  and her friends and caregivers, Bob and Aimee Smith of Templeton.

Besides her parents and husband, Doreen was predeceased by a brother, David Gormley.

There are no calling hours.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, November 27, 2017, on what would of been her 78th birthday, at 2 p.m. in  South Cemetery, 585 South Main Street, Orange.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is directing the arrangements.

You may offer your sympathy online at www.wittyfuneralhome.com