With deep love and sorrow, we announce the passing of Bette Bernice Faulconer, who left us peacefully on May 12, 2025, at the age of 74.

Bette married Jerry Faulconer on May 17, 1969 in Ayer, Massachusetts.

Bette lived a vibrant and full life marked by warmth, resilience, and a fiercely independent spirit. She was best known as a proud owner of Big Dogs, a local bar where she not only ran a business but also built a community. Her strong work ethic, no-nonsense charm, and generous heart left a lasting impression on everyone who crossed her path.

Bette’s love lives on through her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Jason Faulconer, Alyson (Patrick) Kocks, and Dawn O’Brien; and by her cherished grandchildren, Jayden (Samee), Kenyon, Zoey (Tyler), and McGuire (Persephone). She is also survived by a circle of extended family, including in-laws, nieces, and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly and who loved her in return.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerry Faulconer; her parents, James and Dorothy Hawkins; and her brother, Russell Hawkins.

An animal lover and free spirit, Bette found comfort and companionship in the creatures she cared for and in the many friendships she formed, especially in her later years at Elmo Senior Living. There, she embraced life with humor, gratitude, and the same boldness that defined her for decades.

A Celebration of Life will be held in early June to honor Bette and the joy she brought to so many.

Bette’s memory will live on in every laugh shared at Big Dogs, every story told with love, and every heart she touched along the way. Arrangements are entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Bette online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.