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Persis Howarth, 82
Former fitness instructor, avid gardener
Persis “Penny” Howarth, 82, died on May 22 at Cape Cod Hospital after an eight-year battle with emphysema. She was with many loved ones when she passed away peacefully.
Born in Haverhill, Mrs. Howarth was raised in Methuen, the daughter of Persis and Harry Pendleton. She was a graduate of Methuen High School and LaSalle College. At LaSalle, she rowed on the crew team and became the first student to teach senior lifesaving classes.
She spent many happy summers at Girl Scout Camp as a camper in Andover and later as a counselor on Treasure Island on Lake Winnipesauke in New Hampshire.
She married Ernest Howarth in Methuen in 1946. They raised their family in Marblehead and Lunenburg. They later lived in Alaska, Wyoming and Kentucky during Mr. Howarth's work assignments and settled in North Eastham after his retirement.
Mrs. Howarth became friends with physical fitness expert Bonnie Prudent in 1963 and trained at her institute in Stockbridge. She became the Central Massachusetts director of The Bonnie Prudent Institute of Physical Fitness, lecturing and teaching exercise classes for many years. She also taught swimming and exercise classes for three- and four-year-old children at the Fitchburg YMCA. For five years Mrs. Howarth was the director of the Quincy YMCA Women’s Physical Fitness Camp in Sandwich.
Mrs. Howarth was an avid and gifted gardener, and her flower beds were much admired by her family and neighbors. Skiing and beach excursions were among her favorite pastimes.
In her later years Mrs. Howarth loved the company of her dog Puccini and her cat Tigger, contently sitting in her breezeway with them on her lap while she watched the birds at her feeders.
She is survived by her companion of 20 years, Meredith Brayton of North Eastham; her son, Lee Howarth of North Eastham; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, June 17, at St. Mary of the Harbor Episcopal Church, 517 Commercial St., Provincetown. Mrs. Howarth’s ashes will be scattered at sea in a private service.
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Baiba Briedis, 64
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Jun 8th, 2006