Anne Julie Bovat

Anne Julie Bovat, 80, of Springfield, passed away peacefully on February 18th. Anne was born on April 13, 1940 to Thomas J. Scanlon and Mary (Galvin) Scanlon in Springfield, MA. She attended and graduated from Sacred Heart School in Springfield, MA. In 1960, she graduated from the Nursing Program at Mercy Hospital in Springfield and went on to complete her B.S. in Nursing at Boston College in 1963. After a whirlwind trip across Europe, she decided teaching would allow her more free time to travel, and, in 1968, received her teacher’s certification through the University of Massachusetts. She then began a career in teaching elementary education with the City of Springfield. She married Clifford H. Bovat of Westfield, MA on February 15, 1969 at Sacred Heart Church in Springfield, MA. After losing her husband to cancer in 1974, Anne raised her two daughters while pursuing her love of travel. She visited most of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, Canada, Israel, Egypt, China, Nepal, Russia, Costa Rica and most of Europe and the Caribbean. She attended two winter Olympics and two World’s Fairs. Her favorite trip was to Australia in 2003, where she was able to visit her pen-pals of over 60 years. She maintained her nursing license throughout her teaching career and often worked with the VNA. She retired from teaching in 2002. When she wasn’t travelling, Anne enjoyed volunteering at many places, including Shriners Hospital in Springfield. She was a former member of the Red Hat Society and the East Longmeadow Garden Club. Anne also enjoyed doing crafts, skiing, ice skating and playing mini golf, but her favorite activity was spending time with her beloved grandchildren. Anne is preceded in death by her parents Thomas & Mary Scanlon and her husband Clifford Bovat. Anne is survived by her daughter, Monique Rose and her husband David and their three children, Lauren, Matthew, and Jacob of Millbury, MA, her daughter, Julieanne of Stoneham, MA and her sister Mary Lennon of Timonium, MD. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Forastiere Smith Funeral home at 220 North Main St in East Longmeadow on Tuesday March 2nd from 10-11am, a funeral home service will begin at 11:00am. Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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