Marblehead...

Anna E. "Bettie" (Pedersen) Hamilton, age 92, wife of the late John W. Hamilton, Jr., with whom she shared 65 years of marriage, died Thursday morning June 12, 2014 at her residence. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Harry W. and Eleanora (Schmidt) Pedersen. She was a graduate of Marblehead High School and continued her education in Secretarial studies.


When her oldest child graduated from High School, Bettie started her life's dream of working in the arts. She started taking courses with various Rockport artists to learn various techniques and to develop her own unique style. She also audited many courses at Montserrat School of Art in its earliest days. She was an artist working mostly in watercolors, sculpture and multi Medias. She exhibited her works in several art shows and had won many awards for her talents. As well as being an artist, Bettie was an author having published eight mystery novels, two cookbooks and several poems. Her novels were based on Marblehead and her cookbooks were mainly seafood dishes and were unique as they included stories about Old Marblehead with each recipe.

Mrs. Hamilton was a member of the Marblehead Arts Association and the Swampscott Arts Association. She had many of her works in their festivals, with two in this year's Marblehead Arts Festival next month. Mrs. Hamilton and her husband were founding members of the Clifton Lutheran Church in Marblehead. She was also involved with the Girl and Boy Scouts with her children as they were growing up. Bettie enjoyed traveling with her husband and had been to many places including Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Nova Scotia and many others.

Surviving her are her four children, John W. Hamilton, III of Beverly, Kristina L. Hamilton of South Fremantle, Australia, Peder W. Hamilton of Kingston, NH, Elizabeth A. Hamilton and her husband Patrick McDonald of Leara, Australia, grandmother of six, great grandmother of two and aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Harry Pedersen.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St., Marblehead on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. It was requested by the family that there be no visiting hours. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Montserrat College of Art Alumni Fund, 23 Essex St., Beverly, MA 01915 or to the Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St., Marblehead, MA 01945. Arrangements are under the direction of the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem. For additional
information or on line guest book please call 781-631-8885 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.