Florence 'Bunny' Elizabeth Rogers
Monday, January
3, 2005
Florence "Bunny" Elizabeth Rogers, 72, of 24 Main St.,
Northborough, died Friday in her home after a long illness. The
beloved wife and best friend of Grenville H. "Bucky" Rogers, she will be
greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Mrs. Rogers is the cherished mother of Bridget A. Reel
of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brenda L. Derby of Northborough, and the late Gregory
William Rogers; the loving grandmother of Nathan M. Reel of Salem, and
Alexander R. Lincoln of Methuen; great-grandmother of William H. and
Alexander R. Lincoln; and dear sister of Arthur J. Ballard Jr. of Bondville,
VT, and the late Doris Ryan. She is also survived by many nieces and
nephews, as well as her grand-dog, Snowy Derby.
A lifelong resident of Northborough, she was born
Florence Elizabeth Ballard on Sept. 5, 1932, in Marlborough, the daughter of
the late May F. Ballard of Northborough, and the late Arthur J. Ballard of
Marlborough. She graduated from Northborough High School and the Academe
Moderne in Boston. She served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, during
the Korean War. Upon her discharge in 1952, she married "Bucky" Rogers, who
became her lifelong partner.
She enjoyed great success in the real estate
profession. In 1965, she co-founded Norbro Realty Inc., with her husband,
serving as vice president, and subsequently worked as a Realtor with RE/MAX
First Choice of Northborough. In addition to completing her certification at
the Realtor Institute, she was a longtime member of the Massachusetts
Women's Council of Realtors, where she held three elective offices:
president of Worcester County chapter, state president, and later governor
of the Women's Council of Realtors. She also received the prestigious Omega
Tau Rho Medallion of Service awarded to Realtors who demonstrate the highest
leadership on a local, state and national level.
She will be remembered for her contributions to the
communities where she lived and spent her leisure time. In Northborough, she
was a treasurer of the Women's Club, an active volunteer with shut-in
elderly and a member of the town's Historical Society. In Rockport, she was
a member of the Sandy Bay Yacht Club, where she actively supported the youth
sailing program.
She was an avid gardener and sailor, and enjoyed
collecting memorabilia relating to Northborough's history. She was a
lifelong member of Trinity Church in Northborough.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. at Trinity
Church, 23 Main St., Northborough.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Trinity Church Memorial Fund, 23 Main St., Northborough, MA 01532.