Artemis Diana Warburton of Eastham died peacefully on Sept. 3, 2020 at Pleasant Bay Nursing and Rehab Center in Brewster at the age of 97.
Artemis, who was known as “Arty,” was born in 1923 to Theodore Mitchell and his wife, Celia, both originally from Greece. The family lived in New Bedford, where Theodore established a popular restaurant, Lupo’s. Artemis had two sisters, Ero and Beatrice.
At age 18, she moved with Ero to New York City, where she completed a two-year program at Pratt Institute. She then enlisted in the Navy and served her country for the next two years, during World War II.
After the war, she married the love of her life, William Warburton, who had also just returned from service in the Navy. Arty and Bill built a home for themselves in Mattapoisett and had three children: Diana, June, and William III. The family later moved to Hyannis, where they established and operated a successful guest house and property management company. Arty and Bill loved the outdoors, and as the children grew older, they would come to the Outer Cape, often camping at Herring Cove Beach. They had many family connections at the Cape’s tip. Arty’s sister Ero and Ciro Cozzi, co-founder of Ciro & Sal’s restaurant in Provincetown, were married for many years, and Arty and Bill cherished the entire Cozzi family.
Arty and Bill traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada, hiking, backpacking, and camping in national parks. These trips continued until Bill’s untimely death, in 1982.
After Bill died, Artemis sold the guest house and moved to a nearby property, where she forged a new life as an artist. Her love of travel took her abroad, and she visited many countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. She had an adventurous and indomitable spirit, and often traveled solo — this in the days before cell phones and online hotel reservations. On one trip, she visited her ancestral home and sought out long-lost relatives in Greece. Her travels inspired many of the beautiful paintings she created over the years.
Artemis called the Cape home for some 63 years. After Hyannis, she lived for a time on the Cape Cod Canal, in Bourne, and ultimately moved to Eastham, where she lived with her daughter June.
Artemis will be dearly missed by her children, June Lowther and William Warburton III; her grandchildren, Conrad Lowther, Will Warburton, and Erik Warburton; and four great-grandchildren. She also leaves her nieces, Theo Poulin, Michaele Cozzi, and Alethea Cozzi; as well as the spouses and partners of her children, grandchildren, and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill; her daughter Diana Warburton; her sisters, Beatrice Mitchell and Ero Kelly; and her nephew, Peter Cozzi.
It was Artemis’s wish that she be remembered in the hearts of those who knew her, without ceremony. Expressions of condolence for the family may be left in the guest book at gatelyfuneralservice.com.
