Elizabeth "Betsy" Sutherland

Elizabeth "Betsy" (Copperwhite) Sutherland age 47 of Concord passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 17, 2013. She was the loving mother of Sean and Elsie Sutherland both of Concord, girlfriend and partner to E.J. Pappas, and sister of Michael Copperwhite.

Betsy Maxfield Copperwhite was born in Rockville Center, New York, on December 4, 1965, and raised in Port Washington, New York. She was the daughter of Robert J. and Marcia (Smith) Copperwhite, who now reside in Meriden, New Hampshire.

Growing up, she loved to dance, and after graduating from high school enrolled in Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York because of their strong dance programs. After a year and a half, she left Skidmore and enrolled in Boston University. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science Theory, and went on to get her law degree from Seton Hall.

Betsy practiced law at Bill Gates' Dad's firm, Preston Gates & Ellis LLP in Spokane, specializing in Environmental Policy cases. She stayed at Preston Gates & Ellis before marrying, and moving back to the Boston area. In Boston, she worked at SunLife in their legal department, as well as doing some home appraising. Betsy spent the last 10 years as a full time mother to Sean and Elsie.

A devoted mother and resident of Concord she was enthusiastically involved in many of her children's activities, volunteered at school and in their classes. Betsy hobby, and passion was for gardening, and she spent many hours designing, creating and tending to them.

Besides her children and parents, partner and brother, she is survived by her brother Michael's partner, Barbara Blaine both of Worcester, a nephew Zachary and niece Jenna Copperwhite.

Services were held on Tuesday, October 22nd in the Concord Funeral Home, Concord. Interment followed in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord.

Gifts in Betsy's memory may be made to a trust fund to benefit her children (to be announced)
or the Colorectal Cancer Research
c/o American Cancer Society
30 Speen Street
Framingham, MA 01701