Elvira “Vera” Schiattarella Boyle, 98, of Beaumont died Friday, April 27, 2007.
A native of New Jersey, Vera lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts for sixty-three years before moving to Beaumont to be with her family. She was a teacher in New Bedford school system for thirty years as a teacher of students with disabilities and English as a second language. While in New Bedford, Vera was an active member of the American Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of America. She served as president of the PTA and the New Bedford Mental Health Clinic. Vera was a founder and board member of Life Stream, a non-profit association providing residential services and employment to clients with disabilities.
After moving to Beaumont, Vera became an active member of St. Jude Catholic Church. She started the “Mad Hatters” knitting group which makes hats for newborn babies at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. She has knit more than 3,000 wee hats since coming to Beaumont in 1994. About her knitting she always said, “This is just what I do. It makes me feel good. It is my therapy.” Due to Vera’s influence, there are now over twenty-seven knitters of newborn hats.
Vera is survived by her daughter, Barbara Smith and her husband David of Beaumont; granddaughter, Pamela Patterson and her husband Parrish; great grandchildren, Lauren Ashley Patterson and Collin Dean Patterson; step-grandchildren, Jan Havens and her husband Mickey, Mark Smith and his wife Shirley, Keith Smith and his wife Melissa; step-great grandchildren, Amanda Sanchez and her husband David, Alisa Havens, Kira Smith, Christopher Smith, Tiffanie Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph L. Boyle; parents, Frederich and Teresa Gerusso Schiattarella; brothers, Paul Schiattarella and Gilbert Schiattarella.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a rosary to be recited 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at the mortuary.
