Pauline (Polly) Bates Woodward

After a brave battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Polly passed peacefully at the age of 87 surrounded by her loving family.
Polly was born September 20, 1937 in Barnstable,  Massachusetts and died February 3, 2025. She spent her early and retirement years living in Harwich, Massachusetts. In between, she lived in Braintree, Massachusetts, and Brooklyn, New York while her father served in the Navy during WWII; in Rye, New York in the early years of her marriage; and in Brookline, Massachusetts while raising her four children.
   Polly is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, John (Jay) Woodward, Jr.; 4 children: Elizabeth Woodward, Sue Woodward, Peter Woodward and his wife Sharon Malley Woodward, and Amy Proctor and her husband James Proctor; 8 grandchildren: Kerrick Woodward-Sollesnes and his wife Drea Woodward-Sollesnes, Ky Woodward-Sollesnes and his partner Sayr Waters, Kaelan Woodward, Liliana Woodward, Ella Woodward, Clara Woodward, Max Proctor and his partner Allyson Knorr-Anderson, and Alice Proctor; sister, Cynthia Bates, and brother, Donald Bates Jr. and his wife Nancy Bates and daughters Caitlin Lawson and Emily Bates. Polly was predeceased by her mother Elizabeth Bates, her father Donald Bates Sr., and a great-granddaughter.
Polly attended Harwich public schools, earned an RN degree in 1958 at Children’s Hospital School of Nursing, earned a BS in the Graduate Nurse Program in 1960 at Boston College, and earned an MA in Infant/Toddler Studies in 1990 at Wheelock College. Polly’s professional life centered around caring for children. She was a pediatric nurse, principally at Boston Children’s Hospital; ran a home daycare center; and conducted developmental testing on vulnerable infants and young children at Boston City Hospital.
Polly loved Scottish Country Dancing, dancing and performing in local groups from ages 40-84. Being active and outdoors brought her joy throughout her life: sailing her Beetle Cat in her youth, rowing her rowboat around Seymour Pond until age 86, skating gracefully on frozen ponds and cranberry bogs, and delighting in the sights and sounds each season brought to the woods where she lived, such as pinkwinks, herring running, mayflowers, checkerberries, lady slippers, chickadees, and hummingbirds. In the tradition of their parents, Polly and her brother Don loved to care for the woods around them, gathering brush in anticipation of the burning season. Polly and her husband Jay would sit every morning, drinking coffee and watching the birds gather around feeders as the sun rose over the pond. For years they would end each day with a game of Scrabble, sometimes two, making sure they ended on a good game.
Polly embodied kindness, love, and joy. Her wry sense of humor, even in hard times, always brought smiles to those around her. She connected with others deeply, always putting their needs first, laughed easily and often, and treasured small moments with family: walking in the woods, collecting sea glass, playing double-solitaire, cooking family recipes, or sitting together reading. Most of all, Polly loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother and engaged in these relationships with deep love and thoughtfulness. She was an endless cheerleader of her children and grandchildren, excited to see what would come next in each journey and always available to provide support. She was especially proud of each grandchild, cherishing who they are and the time she spent with them. Her family will miss her dearly and is devoted to carrying on her traditions, values, and love.
A celebration of her life is being planned for summer 2025 with details forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Harwich Conservation Trust or The Cape Cod Toy Library.
Notes of comfort may be made to Polly’s family at www.chapmanfuneral.com