Betty passed peacefully surrounded by family on December 2 after a brief illness. She was born in Salem on March 28, 1943 the devoted youngest child of the late Eva R. and Mansur K. Stevens. She was pre-deceased by beloved brother Mansur “Steve” (late Deleen) of Florida and sister Harriet (late Thomas) Hannigan of Stoneham, Massachusetts. She is survived by sisters Barbara (late Harry) Larsen of Salem; Carolyn “Kay” (late Albert) Rozzi of Tilton, New Hampshire; and brothers, Charles (Mel) of Colorado; Thomas (late Nancy) of Salem; and, John (Joyce) of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

The joy she brought as daughter and sister was matched by her role as aunt, buddy, confident and co-troublemaker to her 19 nieces and nephews, and many grand-nieces and nephews. She was central in the lives of all of our individual families. Always with a smile and laugh, she choose to look at life through its humor, to care and love without judgement, and with a streak of quiet independence and self-determination that are the gifts she leaves for us all. 

Despite her self-proclaimed lack of culinary skill, she made a masterpiece potato salad from her mother’s recipe that’s in demand across the generations. Well-regarded as an off-road golf cart driver at The Villages of Florida, Betty enjoyed her many family adventures including pilgrimages to Cape Cod and Florida where card playing and games were always part of the action. She was also a lifelong cat lover.       

Betty graduated from Woodbury High School in Salem and attended the precursor to New Hampshire College/SNHU where she made lifelong friendships that continued to this day. 

After a 25 year career with Equifax companies, she worked closer to home at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital, where her many friends recently celebrated her retirement.

Betty’s family would like to thank the ICU nurses and caregivers at Holy Family Hospital for the care and comfort shown to her during her recent illness.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Thursday, December 7, 2017 from 3 to 5 PM at the Goundrey & Dewhirst Funeral Home, 42 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079.  A Celebration of Life for Betty will follow.  Interment will be at a later date and private for the family. Donations in her name may be made to the COPD Foundation https://www.copdfoundation.org.

To send an online condolence, please visit www.goundreydewhirstfuneral.com.    

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