Elizabeth Van Atten Obituary

Elizabeth Ann "Beth Ann" (Esip) Van Atten, 86, longtime Shrewsbury resident, passed from this life to the next on Friday, June 6, 2025, while surrounded by her loving family, friends, and clergy. Cancer took away this generous and kind teacher and steward of the earth too soon.
She leaves her children: Ret. Lt. Col. William T. "Bill" Van Atten, IV, Amy S. Martins, Christopher E. Van Atten, Kimberley R. Van Atten, and Laurence E. Holyoak; her beloved grandchildren, William T. Van Atten, V and Reagan Van Atten, Edward "Thatcher" and Isabella Van Atten, Sofia and Marina Martins, and Andrew, Harrison, and Lizzie Holyoak; her sister, Janet Shulman, of Shrewsbury; and a niece, Jenny, who lives abroad.
Elizabeth was born in Worcester, daughter of the late Edward J. and Janet E. (Cumming) Esip. She was raised and educated in Worcester, attending Grafton Street Junior High, North High School, then Shrewsbury High School. Elizabeth graduated from Anna Maria College with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, then received her Master's of Education from University of Massachusetts Boston.
She began her teaching career in Germany on the Aschaffenburg Army Base, in her free time, enjoying skiing in the Alps and traveling throughout Europe. She went on to live in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Australia, and France. She loved traveling, folk art, and music with some of her favorite trips being to Cuba, Kenya, and Chile.
She taught science and math for the Shrewsbury School Department, both the Walter J. Paton Elementary School and the Major Howard W. Beal Elementary School from 1985 until 2010. She was a devoted supporter of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and Tower Hill Botanic Garden, and loved working hard preserving native plants in her 2-acre woods and bubbling Little Bummet Brook.
Elizabeth was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was also devoted to Special Olympics for all their support of Kim. She enjoyed sharing the symphony with others as a member of the Boston Handel and Haydn Society, and learning foreign languages. She led annual family clan trips to the Scottish Highland Games at Loon Mountain NH.
Her faith, family, and friends were her biggest joy in life, especially her grandchildren. Elizabeth was a faithful member of Saint Mary's Church, volunteered with charities like Days for Girls, and ventured on support trips to Haiti.
Her family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the loving care Elizabeth received while at Saint Vincent Hospital & Cancer Center and VNA through the nurses, doctors, and aides alike.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you would consider a memorial donation made to one of her favorite organizations: International Animal Rescue, of which her daughter Laurence is U.S. Program Director (https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/donate), the Massachusetts Audubon Society (https://www.massaudubon.org/donate), the Massachusetts Special Olympics (https://www.support.specialolympics.org), or to Saint Mary's Church (https://stmarysparish.org/weshare).
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the Van Atten family between 4 – 7 PM on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 at the BRITTON-SHREWSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 648 Main Street, Shrewsbury. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Thursday June 19th at Saint Mary's Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury, with burial to follow at Mountain View Cemetery.