Beth Tableman
May 10, 1948 - September 19, 2026
Beth Tableman died on September 19, 2026, in Lynden, Washington. She was 78.
She was born May 10, 1948, in Philadelphia, to Edward and Eleanore Cassel. She was preceded in death by her brother, Edward, and her sister, Kim. Beth raised her three children in Maine, then built a career in accounting and bookkeeping. She was smart, skilled, and fiercely independent — her kids would say stubborn — and she liked it that way.
At 70 she packed up her belongings and drove across the country to northwest Washington to be near her grandchildren, Harper and Ethan. Her daughter Katie and son-in-law Mike Farnsworth live in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and her son Nathan moved to the area five years ago to be near them.
She filled her days with friends, books, mahjong, and knitting. She was a remarkable knitter. Even in her last weeks she was still talking about teaching a knitting class. She was known for sending out a daily weather report as an amateur meteorologist. She loved trains, and more than once rode from Boston to Los Angeles to visit Adam, her middle son, knitting along the way and making friends as she went. She loved iced tea and was particular about it: she could tell if it came from a bottle or had been fresh brewed. Until this past spring she was living on her own, working, and keeping a full social life. That independence mattered to her as much as anything.
She is survived by her children, Nathan Tableman, Katie Farnsworth, and Adam Tableman, and by her grandchildren, Harper and Ethan. Being around her friends and her family was what made a good day for Beth.
A celebration of her life is planned for next spring in Maine. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you pick up a pair of knitting needles, sit with someone you love, and donate to Christian Health Care Center in Lynden (https://chcclynden.org), which cared for her with such kindness in her final months.
The family wishes to thank the nursing staff at PeaceHealth in Bellingham and everyone at Christian Health Care Center for their immense kindness toward our beloved mother.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
