Elizabeth “Beth” Murphy Dawson, 74, died unexpectedly on Saturday, February 10, 2018. She was the wife of James A. Dawson.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Bernard F. and Rita E. (Harrington) Murphy, she was a graduate of Holy Family High School and Boston College School of Nursing. After growing up in New Bedford, she split her time between New Canaan, CT and Mattapoisett.

She was a communicant of St. Aloysius and St. Anthony’s Churches.

Dawson was a devoted, full time mother, dedicating her life to her five children and 10 grandchildren.

She worked as a nurse at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston and was a nursing instructor at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. She was also a school nurse at New Canaan High School and Saxe Middle School.

Beth was a Dame of Malta, taught CCD at St. Aloysius School, and was an active member of her local school and church communities.

Survivors include her husband, James A. Dawson of New Canaan, CT and Mattapoisett; her five children, Margaret Dawson Bolster, James Bernard Dawson, Kate Dawson Ayers, M.D., Elizabeth Ann Dawson, and John Harrington Dawson; and ten grandchildren, Michael Finn Ayers, James Dawson Ayers, Jack Ambrose Dashiell Bolster, Lucy Cronin Ayers, Kayla Elizabeth Murdock Bolster, Thomas Murphy Dawson, Henry Middleton Dawson, Elizabeth Grey Dawson, Gloria Murphy Dawson, and James Edward Dawson.

Her wake will be held on Monday, February 12, from 4-8 p.m. at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 13, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Church in New Bedford. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.