V. Pearl Sanford of Reading MA and Nantucket died peacefully at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on July 3, 2019 at the age of 97.

Pearl was born to Susie E. (Bradbury) and Thomas Richards, formerly of Newfoundland, in Chelsea MA on August 16, 1921 and was raised in Medford, MA.

Pearl graduated from Medford High School and Burdett College. She was employed as an executive secretary at the 2 ^nd National Bank of Boston and the State Street Bank.

In 1948 she married George M. Sanford, Jr. of Malden, MA and they moved to Reading in 1951.

Pearl was a member of the 1 ^st Congregational Church of Reading where she taught Sunday school, played the piano and was actively involved in charity work.

Pearl was a past president of the Reading Chapter of the Social Order of the Beauceant and past president of the Women's Bond Club of Boston, as well as a Cub Scout Den Mother.

She loved spending time at the family summer home on Round Pond in East Wakefield, NH where she particularly enjoyed the company of her two grandsons.  Ice cream in Wolfeboro was her specialty.

After living in Reading for 63 years Pearl moved to Nantucket's Sherburne Commons and spent her remaining 5 years acquiring new friends and experiencing island life.

Pearl was predeceased by her husband, George. She is survived by her son Dr. Craig Sanford and his wife Mary of Nantucket, grandsons Christopher Sanford and his wife Michelle and great grandchildren Shane, Brynn and Blake of Fairfield, CT and Geoffrey Sanford and his wife Nathalie and great grandchildren Sean, Mia and Ryan  of Saranac Lake, NY. Cousin and lifelong friend Winifred Barnard of Newton, MA and friend Ed Jenkins of Nantucket.

Funeral Arrangements are being handled by the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home in Reading with a celebration of life will be held at the 1 ^st Congregational Church 25 Woburn St., Reading on Thursday July 11, 2019 at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Puritan lawn Memorial Park in Peabody, MA. There are no visiting hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp O-AT-KA PO Box 239 in Sebago, ME 04029.

The family wishes to thank Jane Viera, the staff of Sherburne Commons, Our Island Home, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Dr. Tim Lepore and Laura Kohtio-Graves for their care.

For directions and on line guest book visit johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com