Elizabeth Ann (Burns) Rivers "Bette" of Port Charlotte, FL, formerly of Melrose, died on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at the Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte. She was 82 years old. Born on March 31, 1929 in Malden, a daughter to the late Thomas & Christine (Gallagher) Burns, she was raised in Malden and a 1947 graduate of Malden High School. Mrs. Rivers worked for the Jordan Marsh Company of Boston for 4 years as a Unit Control Clerk, the W.W. Welch Company of Medford for 8 years as a bookkeeper, the Warner Company of Medford for 19 years as a Bookkeeper, the New England Merchants Bank of Boston as a Proof & Controller & Mellon Financial for a few years. She was a Melrose resident for 35 years and a Port Charlotte, Florida resident for 21 years. Elizabeth was the devoted wife of Kenneth S. Rivers with whom they shared 64 years of marriage. She was the caring sister of Nancy Weymouth & her late husband James of Malden, Phyllis Amato & her late husband Dominic of Melrose & Claire Strange & her husband Earl of Everett. She was also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews & step-daughter Gloria Ward of Saugus. The Funeral will be from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Monday, September 12th at 9AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Most Blessed Sacrament Church 1155 Main St., Wakefield at 10AM. Relatives & friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours Sunday from 2-6PM. Interment in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. Arrangements by The Gately Funeral Home of Melrose. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Elizabeth's memory may be made to the American Heart Assoc. P.O. Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241. For directions or to sign Elizabeth's guest book, please visit www.gatelyfh.com