Beverly Lena (Strout) Sotir

Beverly Lena Sotir (Strout), 82, of Belmont, MA. Beloved wife of the late Thomas Sotir. Predeceased by her parents, Lena (Luciani) and Winfield L. Strout, her brother Loren W. Strout, all of Quincy, MA, and her loving in-laws, Olympia and Rafail Sotir and sister-in-law Violet Sotir, all of Somerville, MA.

She is survived by her eight children and their spouses: Tracy and David Ramsey of Belmont, MA., Mark and Migdalia Sotir of Naperville, Il., Lisa Sotir Parsons of Belmont, MA., and Jamie Parsons of Lewes, DE., Matthew and Suzi Sotir of North Hampton, NH., Luke and Abigail Sotir of Lexington, MA., John Sotir of Santa Clara, CA. and Belmont, MA., Rachel and Mark Aslett of Winchester, MA., and Hillary and Megan Hotchkiss of Millis, MA.  She was the devoted grandmother of Jack, Sarah, Grace and Paul Ramsey, Michael, David and Peter Sotir, Georgia and Jake Parsons, Dylan Sotir, Isabella, Liana and Annora Sotir, Charlotte, Emily and Lily Aslett and Lena Hotchkiss. Beverly instilled in each of them her astounding strength and fierce appreciation for life.

She also leaves behind her sister in-law, Nancy Strout, nieces, Amy Strout, Julie Strout Hartman and nephews, Adam and Brian Strout.

Beverly was born July 14, 1938 in Quincy, Massachusetts. Her parents owned and ran The Winfield House restaurant and President City Motel in Quincy for more than 50 years. Beverly wore a variety of hats helping run the family business. She was known for her beautiful voice and lyrical piano playing.  Her musical talents entertained countless Quincy locals and restaurant patrons throughout the years. She met her husband, Tom, at Nasson College in Maine and they married in 1961. They settled in West Newton, MA where they raised their eight children in controlled chaos. The family spent summers at their beloved Goose Rocks Beach, where they ran the beach’s flagship General Store for 27 years. The family liked to joke that Bev ran the store while Tom “gave away the store.”

Beverly’s loves were her family, her church, music, and reading. Beverly was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She especially loved her role as Nana, and gave her 17 grandchildren unconditional love. There was nothing she enjoyed more than regaling her grandchildren with stories of her youth. They would sit wide-eyed as she told them tales of feeding the 10,000 chickens on the family farm or sneaking berries she had to pick for the homemade pies served at the Winfield House. She instilled a love of music in all her children. Singing and playing the piano were staples at family events growing up. Her reputation of being a voracious reader was proven by the stack of books, especially history and biographies, which could always be found by her living room chair. Her faith was unshakable. While raising her eight children, she would march the clan every Sunday to St. George Orthodox Cathedral in South Boston. She was an instrumental lay leader throughout the years, including serving as President of the Daughters of Saint George for 20 years. She was respected and beloved by church members, both for her commitment to the church, and for her delicious Brushtull and Spinach Pies that were prized delicacies always in demand at the annual church bazaar. Beverly made it all seem so easy: cooking, cleaning, carpooling, helping with homework, scheduling doctor appointments for eight children plus Tom, Nana Olympia, Nana Strout and Vi. She had a vivacious personality always making people around her laugh and feel welcome.

She never complained as she packed and unpacked the Chevy Suburban for countless trips to and from Maine or as she decorated the house on Highland Street to the hilt each Christmas. If it seemed like Beverly never slept, it is because she didn’t. She was raised with an unmatched work ethic. Even when diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer back in 2006, she did not quit. She fought more ferociously than the strongest warrior beating her initial six – month prognosis by nearly 15 years.

So now, Beverly, Mama, Mom, Nana, Mrs. Sotir – after 82 years of working, fighting on behalf of for those around you and most especially always giving of your unconditional love, rest. You deserve it as much as anyone does. Everyone acknowledges that you are the model for living an exemplary life. 

We all love you. Now, we know, you are at peace with Tom (Papa) in heaven.

The family would like to thank the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, especially Dr. Pasi A. Janne and Margaret McMullin, as well as Dr. Kathryn Rexrode for the tremendous care they afforded our mother for more than a decade. We would also like to thank Edna D., Enky E., Edna P. and Nora T., the wonderful aides who provided care, comfort and friendship so Mom could remain in her home during her last years. We will be forever grateful to each one of you.

Should you desire, the family would welcome memorial donations may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Center for Thoracic Oncology  450 Brookline Avenue  Boston, MA 02215 or St. George Albanian Orthodox Church 523 E. Broadway  Boston, MA 02127.

Services will be private due to Covid-19 but held on Wednesday December 23rd at 10am and will be livestreamed at  https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeCathedralBoston/.  There will be a celebration of Beverly’s life at a future date. 

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