Jean V. Betteridge

Jean V. Betteridge left us on May 27, 2018. She will be lovingly remembered by family and her abundance of friends as a kind and elegant women with the beautiful English accent who embraced life and all it had to offer. She was a creative contrarian throughout her life.  She had the vision, the judgment and the skills to tackle challenges and opportunities in unconventional ways.  Not everyone agreed with her approach, and some found her intimidating, but her heart was always in the right place.  An artist in watercolors and tile, an accomplished and certified chef, a home renovator, a volunteer for several causes, a traveler, a caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and to her departed husband Jack, a loving and strong wife.

She was born in Ealing (part of London) on October 9, 1930.  Her father, James Philip Long, was an accomplished jeweler and her mother, Cissie May Long (nee Courtney) reveled in home entertainment for her family and friends.  Jean’s brother, Maurice, was also a talented artist outside his construction career.

Jean worked as a teller at the Bank of England after high school before she and Jack were married in July 1950.  Over her life, she worked in sales for Wedgwood, sold real estate in Louisiana and worked with Jack to renovate homes in Louisiana, Toronto, Long Island and Connecticut.  They also built a solar home in Virginia back in 1981.  At the airport on Catalina Island, she was part of a team of tile artists that built the entrance display.

She volunteered on every level.  On a personal level, many people brought their problems to her and she was respected for her clear advice and friendship.  She also gave time to charities and was responsible for setting up the Daughters of the British Empire’s first chapter in New Orleans.

Jean leaves her daughter Jane and her husband Jack, their children – John, Sarah and David – and their grandchildren – Carter, Greyson, Lily and Matthew.  Jean also leaves her son Mark and his wife Angela, Mark’s sons – Mark, Christopher and Andrew – and grandchildren Abigaelle, Isabella, Jack and Lilie . Her spirit and imagination live on through them.

Parkinson’s took her so donations to Parkinson’s research would be appreciated.  A celebration of life will be at the Woodlake Clubhouse in Woodbury, Connecticut (57 Woodlake Drive) at 11 a.m. on June 23rd. We thank everyone and encourage you to live life to its fullest.

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