Anita Harriet (Dawson) Croft, 100, of Mattapoisett died peacefully at her home, on Thursday, April 29, 2021, while surrounded by loved ones. She missed celebrating her 101st birthday by only a week.
Anita was born, and spent her early childhood in Margaree Harbor, on Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia, Canada. She was the daughter of the late William Dawson and Clara (MacIntosh) Dawson. Anita’s family moved to Malden, Massachusetts in the late 1920’s. She graduated from Malden High School and Chandler Secretarial School in Boston. Anita enjoyed working for several years in accounting at H.P. Hood and Sons, in Boston.
Anita married her high school sweetheart, William “Bill” Croft, in 1942. They moved to Mattapoisett in 1951 where Anita became a homemaker and worked part-time doing accounting for Brownell Boatyards and the Gingras’ Gas Station, both in Mattapoisett. She was an active member of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Anita was an avid reader and supporter of the Mattapoisett Library. She was involved with the Mattapoisett Historical Museum and the Mattapoisett Land Trust. She loved cats and could often be found with a book in her hand and a cat by her side. Anita loved the town of Mattapoisett and her many friends about town. Everyone who met her appeared to love her for her kind, witty and always patient personality.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Anita was predeceased by her husband, William Croft, in 2003. Survivors include her two daughters, Lisa Anderson and her husband, Jeff, of Marion and Lauren Vaughan and her husband, Allen, of Stafford, VA; three grandsons, Eric Anderson and his wife, Molly, of Baltimore, MD; David Anderson and his wife Colleen, of Mountain View, HI; and Daniel Vaughan and his wife Cherrie, of Sanford, NC. She has three great-grandchildren, Jessica, Sara, and William Vaughan. Anita also leaves behind her devoted niece, Marjorie Johnson of Somers, CT; and many great nieces, nephews and friends.
The family would like to express appreciation to her loving CNA’s and to Southcoast Hospice. To honor her memory, do something kind for someone in need. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Mattapoisett Historical Society, 5 Church St., P.O. Box 535, Mattapoisett, MA, 02739.
Her memorial service will be held on Friday May 7, 2021 at 12 Noon at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Mattapoisett, with visitation from 11 AM-12 PM prior to the service. Burial in Cushing Cemetery, Mattapoisett will be private. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
