Anne S. (Richardson) Mason

PRINCETON - Anne S. Mason, 76, died on Sunday, September 4, 2016, after a mercifully short struggle with lung cancer. Anne is survived by her husband and best friend of 52 years, Robert G., and their sons, Robert and his daughter, Paisley, and Russell (Rud) and his wife, Julie and their children, Elijah, Judith and Thomas.  She also leaves two sisters, Mary Nash and Victoria Richardson; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Smith and her husband, Don; cherished nieces and nephew; and many cousins.

Anne was the oldest daughter of Eleanor (Harris) and Russell W. Richardson.  She was born in Schenectady, NY on July 12, 1940 and lived in a number of places with her family, but always spent part of each summer with her grandmother, Theresa Richardson at the Brown House in Princeton.  Anne went through high school and college in Grand Rapids, MI. She then came to Massachusetts where she worked as a travel agent in Worcester.  She and Bob lived on Hubbardston Road before moving into the Brown House in 1968.  That house has been in Anne’s family since it was built for John Russell in 1787.

Anne served the Princeton community as postmaster from 1967 until her retirement in 1999.  When she began that job the post office was still in a corner of the village store and she remembered pumping gas and waiting on store customers.  She oversaw the addition of rural delivery from the Princeton post office, the addition of house numbers, the closing of the East Princeton post office, and the move of the post office to its present location on Worcester Road.  She had a genuine interest in her customers and always tried to provide cheerful service. Her excellent service prompted the Prince of Peace Church to request a Papal Blessing for Anne, which was bestowed at the time of Elijah’s baptism.  She also served on the town Advisory Board, volunteered in her sons’ classrooms, was secretary for the Princeton-Sterling youth football program, and helped at the Princeton Historical Society.

Anne loved her time spent on Cuttyhunk Island where her mother’s family had a long history. She spent at least a week there every summer of her life, and in her later years spent entire summers in Rose Cottage surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She and Bobby spent time in the Florida Keys and in Jamaica during the winter.  Anne loved her flower garden, the birds that visited her feeders, a good book, a complicated jigsaw puzzle to work at with Bobby, and reconnecting with friends far and wide on Facebook.  Anne never received a gift without giving.  She had a series of cats and dogs; Sadey, the current German Shepherd, will miss her greatly.

Anne’s family extend their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Shepro and his staff who saw Anne through her two bouts with cancer.  The family also thanks the nurses and doctors at St. Vincent Hospital who cared for her in her final days in room 3304.

A service to celebrate Anne’s life will be held at the First Congregational Church, 14 Mountain Road, Princeton, at 2 pm on Saturday, September 17th. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anne’s memory may be made to the Princeton Historical Society, PO Box 153, Princeton MA 01541 or to St. Vincent Cancer and Wellness Center, 1 Eaton Place, Suite 23, Worcester MA 01608.


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