Leila P. "Lee" (Armstrong) Beardsley

Oakdale/West Boylston- Leila P. "Lee" (Armstrong) Beardsley, 89, wife of the late Nathan L. Beardsley, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on August 20, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Donald and Mabel (Eckel) Armstrong.

From an early age, Lee always had an adventurous spirit. Soon after graduating from high school, Lee and her best friend Sue hitchhiked across Europe, leaving a lifetime of memories and stories that she was so proud to share. She cherished a picture of the two of them standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, though their parents were less thrilled by that excursion.

In August of 1959, Lee married Nate, and they began their life together. Nate, Lee and their first child Romney settled in Oakdale where they raised their four children. Though she was far from home, Lee was lucky to have great neighbors, Bud and Ellen Nash, who were a second family to her. Lee was a stay-at-home Mom with all the chores of a farmer's wife. Her days were spent gardening, housekeeping, sewing, and mending. She often made the kids' clothes for their first day of school. Lee reluctantly cared for the family pets, including pigs, dogs, cats and horses. She became quite adept and known for pig retrieval from the neighbors' front yards. Somehow, she always found time to make her famous bread and butter pickles, pickled beets, and homemade root beer. While raising her four children, Lee worked as a dentist's receptionist and bookkeeper and later worked nearly a full time job as a banquet waitress, starting at the Holden House and then at the Sheraton Lincoln in Worcester, where she bonded with "the girls" and created lifelong friendships.

Lee was a very social and friendly person, always game for anything. Lee's ability to always enjoy and respect adolescence, much like Nate, made the Beardsley home the place to be for many of her children's and grandchildren's friends over the years. She loved nothing more than to get a call from one of the kids or grandkids that they were on their way for waffles, and when you were older, her trademark Bloody Mary’s. She was affectionately known as "Landlady Lee" by the referees and umpires who would frequently start their adventures there. She was always willing to serve a pot of chili or homemade spaghetti sauce to a crowd.

Her love and passion for New England sports teams was a source of entertainment and teasing by her many Canadian relatives. She loved the Armstrong family reunions which occurred every five years, and she was one of the most enthusiastic participants. Lee was the oldest attendee at the 2023 reunion. She will be greatly missed by her Canadian relatives.

Later in life, Lee really enjoyed her time at the beach. She was able to spend many weeks and months in Wells, Maine, Hollywood and Sebastian, Florida, which she cherished with her Southern family, Niki (Nash) and her children: Dale, Penny and Jon.

She will be lovingly missed and remembered by her children, Romney Sloan and her husband Bill, her daughter-in-law Susan Beardsley, Terri Beardsley, Andy Beardsley and his wife Erin, and her brother Bob Armstrong and his wife Niki. Lee loved her eleven grandchildren: Jessica, Kyle and Kendra Sloan, Hannah Whalley and her husband Connor, John, Jennifer and Bobby Beardsley, Paul Beardsley and his wife Joanne, Tyler Griffin and his husband Brian, Connor Beardsley and his wife Georgia, and her favorite Beau Beardsley. Lee was also great-grandmother to Aidan and Olivia Beardsley and Ava Whalley. In addition to her husband of 58 years, she was predeceased by her son Donald Beardsley and by four brothers, Donald, David, Bill and Jack Armstrong.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to her loving friends and caregivers. They made her days brighter. We love you Pat Barrie, Paula Bruhn, Ron and Trina Goodale, Cindy Merritt, Mary O'Neil, and Jackie Raymond.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather with the family from 10 am to 1 pm on Friday July 25 in Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center 100 Worcester Rd. Sterling, MA.

In the spirit of Lee Beardsley and of her favorite color red, please wear colorful, vibrant attire if you wish. In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with Lee's passion for reading, memorial donations may be made to the Beaman Memorial Public Library, 8 Newton St. West Boylston, MA 01583.