Shutesbury, MA – Elizabeth Stern, 93, passed away peacefully and comfortably at her son’s home on September 25, 2016. Elizabeth “Betty” May Alexander was born June 8, 1923, in Middletown, CT, to Mary M. {Shoneck} and Robert R. Alexander and is the oldest of her siblings. She was married three times; Roger E. Butler, Fred Ellis Rowan and Douglas N. Stern. She was employed as an accountant but finished her career as an executive secretary with Van Epps Construction Company, of Old Saybrook, CT., before her retirement in 1974. She was a master at sewing and had a passion for weaving, knitting and cooking. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and loved to share her cooking and canning secrets with her family and friends. She was involved with several churches including her most recent congregation, the Wesley United Methodist Church of Hadley. She also worked with the local Hospice Shop and Amherst Survival Center. Elizabeth touched so many people with humor, kindness of heart, and her honest and most deliberate straightforwardness. Those that knew her would remark that she was never afraid to try new things. Elizabeth is survived by her brother and his wife, Richard and Roberta Alexander of Gasetts, VT, her sisters, Grace Stalsburg of Deep River, CT, Gloria Burdick of Ivoryton, CT, Roberta Ziobron of Deep River, CT, and Paulette Grisky of Ivoryton, CT. Her sister Mary Hubert of FL predeceased her. She is also survived by her son and his wife, John and Yvette Rowan. Her son, William A. Rowan III predeceased her, as well as her late Husbands, Fred Ellis Rowan and Douglas N. Stern. A private memorial will be arranged sometime in the future. In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation may be made to the Dakin Humane Society (www.dakinhumane.com) or VNA Hospice at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.