Mary Elizabeth O’Donnell Daley

Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) O’Donnell Daley passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, after a full and rich life, overcoming many obstacles and achieving much success. She possessed a fertile mind and a warm and embracing personality and persevered in not accepting “no” or settling for less. She believed in people having good natures. Betsy had a sparkling personality and beautiful Irish eyes which she used to her advantage from an early age whether in selling girl scout cookies or greeting cards, or in making friends wherever she went. She loved to travel and she and her husband, Jack, enjoyed many beautiful trips, including vacations at their summer home in Rye Beach, New Hampshire, annual trips to Ireland and Treasure Island, Florida and a cruise through the Panama Canal.

Her life began in the late days of the Depression and grew well beyond that. Born on January 14, 1939, Betsy went from being the daughter of an immigrant Irish mother and railroad conductor father who died in a tragic railroad accident when she was two, to becoming a college educated registered nurse, a college teacher, and a successful businesswoman who founded her own private health care business. Betsy was also a children’s book reviewer for the Waterbury Republican American and was on the parents’ boards at The Foote School and The Neighborhood Music School. Betsy graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and received a master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State College in Sociology. She was the beloved wife of John James ( Jack) Daley III and the loving mother of Elizabeth Draghi (Gary), Kathleen Daley and John Daley (Danielle). She was the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren, Thomas Ward ( Julie), Isabella Draghi, Carolina Draghi, Gianna Draghi, Jack Daley, Lily Daley and Hannah Daley, and the great-grandmother of Cameron Ward. Betsy was predeceased by her father, Thomas, and her mother Hannah O’Donnell Savage and stepfather

John Savage who were the longtime owners of the Tally Ho in Hamden. She was also predeceased by a sister Anne O’Donnell Scanlon.

Visiting Hours will be on Sunday, March 17, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rita Church in Hamden, followed by burial at St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Rita School, Hamden, CT. Condolences may be expressed at Hamdemmemorialfuneralhome.com.