ELIZABETH HALSTEAD

POUGHKEEPSIEElizabeth (Betty) Halstead, 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. She was born in Sharon, Ct., to Charles F. Flannery and Emily Orton. They resided in Amenia, N.Y., until Charles passing when Emily took three year old Elizabeth and moved to the “big city” (Poughkeepsie). There Emily met and married Donald Catucci who raised Elizabeth as his own. Elizabeth attended Poughkeepsie schools and worked for Central Hudson early on in her career. She met her husband, Howard A. Halstead while walking up Main Street in Poughkeepsie with her girlfriends. They married on April 12, 1958 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Poughkeepsie where she remained a loyal parishioner and Eucharistic Minister until her death. Betty began working evenings, part time in the Business Ofce of St. Francis Hospital in 1970. She attended college at night in the 1980’s to earn her degree in Accounting. She worked her way up the corporate ladder until she retired in 2008 as the Comptroller and Director of Accounting Services. Betty took great pride in her work and loved her job and employees almost as much as her own family. She also served as a volunteer at church functions and in the community in the following: President of Mother’s Club, PTO, St. Anthony’s Feast, March of Dimes, American Heart Association, and Mediation Center. In her spare time she loved driving all over to yard sales and antique shops with her best friend, Doris VanBenschoten. She had so many friends from Mt. Carmel Church/School, Friday night widow’s group, Wendy’s and from all the area diners she frequented that are too many to mention. She loved all of you! Betty especially loved to paint Santas from around the world and make quilts. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Howard of over 50 years. Howard and Elizabeth had four children she leaves behind: Christine M. Dick and her husband, Tom of Ulster Park, N.Y., Carol A. Ahmed and husband, David of Newark, Del., Charles H. Halstead and wife, Jennie of Barrington, N.H., and Colleen F. Reilly and husband, Jim of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Gram will be missed by her grandchildren Thomas A. Dick and wife, Christine of Rochester, N.H., Danielle M. Wayman and husband, Cliff of Saugerties, N.Y., Emily E. Tenbrock and husband, Ted of Connelly, N.Y., Sarah Ahmed (predeceased at birth) and Finn. W. Halstead of Barrington, N.H., and great-grandchildren: Coraline, Penelope and Kingston of Rochester, N.H., Riley and Sadie of Saugerties, N.Y. and Brody and Conor ( most recently by marriage) of Connelly, N.Y. Elizabeth is also survived by her sister, Madelina Bator (George); brother, Giaccomo Catucci; and nearest and dearest cousin, Anna May Hess and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased in death by her sister, Katherine Shernski. Whether you called her Ma, Gram, Aunt Betty, Elizabeth, Betty, Mrs. Halstead, Mrs. H. or Bet; we will all miss her! The family would like to thank all those involved in her care over the past year; especially Meg, Kathy and Carmella. She was especially attached to that blue jacket! Visitation will be Friday, April 9, 2021, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 12603. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 10, 2021, at 10 a.m. in Mt. Carmel Church, 95 Mill St., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Burial will follow in the family plot in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com