Obituary for Doris M. Briggs (Evensen)
Doris M. (Evensen) Briggs, 91, a longtime Chelmsford resident, formerly of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at Billerica Crossings, Billerica, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Stuart M. Briggs, Jr. who passed away in 1989.
She was born on July 19, 1929 in Gardner, MA, and was a daughter of the late Christopher H. and Lillian (Anderson) Evensen.
Doris was raised in Gardner and Templeton where she was a graduate of Templeton High School with the class of 1950. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in History in 1954 at Mt. Holyoke College where she earned a full scholarship. Her first job after college was teaching in Westford for 4 years at what is now known as the Rhoudenbush Center. She briefly then worked for the American Heart Association before moving to Melrose. Here while raising her family, she tutored students at home and worked in the Melrose Library. In 1994, Doris moved to Chelmsford where she served as a Town Representative. Prior to her retirement, she also worked for Equitable Insurance in Boston for 6 years and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for 11 years. In her spare time, Doris enjoyed reading and her memberships in the Moving-On Group for Widows, Great Decisions Group, League of Women Voters, and NAMI. She was active in the Chelmsford Senior Center where she enjoyed bridge and knitting. Most of all, Doris cherished the time spent with her family.
Doris leaves her daughter, Anne Burns and her husband Dana of Millbury, MA, her grandchildren; Amanda W. Burns and her fiancé Matt Dienhart of Apex, NC, and Christopher S. Burns and his wife Ruth Blaisdell of Chelmsford, her sister Janet Carr of Stowe, MA, her sisters-in-law Joanne Evensen of Mission Viejo, CA and Vinny Abel of Wellesley, and her brother-in-law William Briggs of Savannah, GA. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Sadly, she is predeceased by her son James L. Briggs and her brother David Evensen.
Visiting Hours will be held on Saturday, January 9, from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Graveside services will be held privately. You are invited to view the graveside service live on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 at 11:00 am. Please click on the livestream link below her obituary here at the time of the service. A memorial service will be held in the future when safe for all. Memorial donations may be made in her name to Hospice Services of Massachusetts, 681 Main St., Haverhill, MA 01830.
She was born on July 19, 1929 in Gardner, MA, and was a daughter of the late Christopher H. and Lillian (Anderson) Evensen.
Doris was raised in Gardner and Templeton where she was a graduate of Templeton High School with the class of 1950. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in History in 1954 at Mt. Holyoke College where she earned a full scholarship. Her first job after college was teaching in Westford for 4 years at what is now known as the Rhoudenbush Center. She briefly then worked for the American Heart Association before moving to Melrose. Here while raising her family, she tutored students at home and worked in the Melrose Library. In 1994, Doris moved to Chelmsford where she served as a Town Representative. Prior to her retirement, she also worked for Equitable Insurance in Boston for 6 years and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for 11 years. In her spare time, Doris enjoyed reading and her memberships in the Moving-On Group for Widows, Great Decisions Group, League of Women Voters, and NAMI. She was active in the Chelmsford Senior Center where she enjoyed bridge and knitting. Most of all, Doris cherished the time spent with her family.
Doris leaves her daughter, Anne Burns and her husband Dana of Millbury, MA, her grandchildren; Amanda W. Burns and her fiancé Matt Dienhart of Apex, NC, and Christopher S. Burns and his wife Ruth Blaisdell of Chelmsford, her sister Janet Carr of Stowe, MA, her sisters-in-law Joanne Evensen of Mission Viejo, CA and Vinny Abel of Wellesley, and her brother-in-law William Briggs of Savannah, GA. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Sadly, she is predeceased by her son James L. Briggs and her brother David Evensen.
Visiting Hours will be held on Saturday, January 9, from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Graveside services will be held privately. You are invited to view the graveside service live on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 at 11:00 am. Please click on the livestream link below her obituary here at the time of the service. A memorial service will be held in the future when safe for all. Memorial donations may be made in her name to Hospice Services of Massachusetts, 681 Main St., Haverhill, MA 01830.