Bassett Family Association Database

Dorothy M. MacGillivray

Female 1924 - 2015  (91 years)


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  • Name Dorothy M. MacGillivray 
    Born 18 Feb 1924  Springfield, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    _UID C75BAD893F04E74D83C297D3E0988178EFDC 
    Died 1 Dec 2015 
    Notes 
    • The Republican, December 11, 2015
      Dorothy M. Bassett (Picture included)

      Dorothy Martha Bassett, age 91, of Lester B. Orcutt Blvd., quietly passed away on December 1, 2015 at home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Springfield, MA on Feb. 18, 1924, the daughter of the late Hugh and Edith (Corkum) MacGillivray. Dorothy will always be remembered for her passion of being a nurse, especially for women and children, and her lifelong commitment to helping others. After graduating from high school ( Hitchcock Free Academy) in Brimfield, MA in 1940, at age 16, she immediately went on to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for training to become a registered nurse, later working at Brigham and Woman's Hospital . After the war, she then attended (Case) Western Reserve University in Cleveland OH, and became one of the first women in the country to receive an academic degree in nursing. During the 1950's, she was the director of nursing at Wesson Women's Maternity Hospital in Springfield, MA. She set her career aside for her young family temporarily, but returned to the nursing world soon after, in multiple capacities. She worked as a school nurse and visiting nurse while the family was in Ohio. She worked at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, and eventually retired from nursing, at age 70, after many years at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Springfield, MA. Seemingly the very next day, she began volunteering with the American Red Cross, in both MA and later, Maine. When Dorothy was not caring for her family or patients, she enjoyed gardening, bird watching, long walks, mystery shows and novels, and doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles with her husband. She is predeceased by her loving husband, Harold J. Bassett, her brother Robert MacGillivray of Biddeford Pool and her dearest cousin, Evelyn Crossman, of PA. Dorothy is survived by her children- Robert W. Bassett of Essex Junction, VT, John D. Bassett of Los Angeles, CA, Ellen M. Bassett of Charlottesville, VA, and Anne C. Bassett of Biddeford Pool. Services will be private. As per her wishes, at a later date, Dorothy will be buried next to her husband at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Springfield, MA. More information can be found at the website Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, mainefuneral.com, who has been entrusted to handle arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Rt. 1, Scarborough, Maine 04074 or Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.
    Person ID I14790  14B Jean Besset of Quebec
    Last Modified 11 Dec 2015 

    Family Harold John Bassette,   b. 7 Feb 1922, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Jun 1999, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Children 
     1. Robert W. Bassett
     2. John D. Bassett
     3. Ellen M. Bassett
     4. Anne C. Bassett
    Last Modified 11 Dec 2015 
    Family ID F5702  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart