Betty Foye, a passionate and experienced gardener, who's humor and wisdom will be greatly missed.
Here is an excerpt from The Day, New London, Ct. about her exceptional life.
New London - Elizabeth Fetzer Foye, beloved mother, grandmother, and wife, Navy veteran, committed volunteer, and loyal friend peacefully passed away on April 22, 2008. She was 85 years old and enjoyed a rich and independent life.
Born in 1922 in Morristown, N.J., she graduated from Morristown High School in 1939. She continued her education at the Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing in Montclair, N.J., and became a registered nurse in 1944. During her childhood, she loved riding horses, going to her grandmother's farm, and developing her stellar tennis game.
She was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Davitt Fetzer and the sister of Charles K. Fetzer, all of whom preceded her in death.
With the coming of World War II, she was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy and assigned to St. Albans Hospital in Tarrytown, N.Y. There, she met William Foye, a naval aviator, caring for him after his serious injury, who became her husband of 47 years.
Betty and Bill joined the New London community and had eight children together. They vigilantly supported their children in all their activities at New London High School and in their college years and beyond. As parents, they taught their children the value of love and support of your community, loyalty to family, the value of education and hard work, and the Golden Rule. Her strong Roman Catholic faith provided guidance and support throughout the challenges of life.
Her career in nursing (U.S. Navy and Mitchell College) was the cornerstone of her extraordinary life dedicated to the service of others, especially those less fortunate than she. For over 60 years, she worked tirelessly for charitable organizations too numerous to list in full. Some of her more recent work was with the New London area food pantry; Child and Family Agency; Catholic Charities; Girl Scouts (lifetime member), Lawrence and Memorial Hospital volunteers (over 25 years), Save Ocean Beach (SOB), New London Beautification, and many groups for St. Joseph Church.
Fiercely independent and a woman of many interests, Betty passionately pursued her hobbies in her "spare time". One of her greatest loves was her gardens not only at her colorful, charming cottage but also in her work with the Friends of Harkness, Save Ocean Beach (SOB) and New London Beautification.
The short video, below, shows Betty's garden sites and projects at Ocean Beach Park. All the photos were taken in the past garden year by members of the Beautification Committee.
