Betty Claudia Levin
Mystic — Betty Claudia Mackay Pendergraft Levin, 92, formerly of Gales Ferry, passed away Jan. 21, 2023, at Mystic Healthcare while surrounded by loved ones. Claudia, as she was best known in the U.S.A., was born in Perth, Australia, on Nov. 29, 1930, the daughter of the late Donald Mackay and Josephine Townsend Mackay.
Claudia originally was married in 1947, to an American naval officer, Wilson Pendergraft, and eventually moved to the southeastern Connecticut area, where they raised their three children. Over the course of her time in America, she had married William R. Levin of Norwich and Gales Ferry, where they resided for more than 40 years.
During a portion of that time, she managed both the New London and Groton-based D&L ladies’ clothing stores. She also was an accomplished cook, house decorator and artist, working in a number of mediums, including oils, water colors and fabrics. She was one of the founders of the Thames River Quilters Guild, which today can boast hundreds of members since the 1980s.
Claudia, Betty, Auntie Bet, Mom, or Grammy as she was lovingly known, was predeceased by her husband William R. Levin whom she had married in 1969. She is survived by her children, Janet Pendergraft McDonald (Frank) of Norwich, Donna Pendergraft Jorgensen (Niels) of North Stonington, and son Roger Pendergraft of Bozrah; stepchildren: Fredric and Wendy Cohen Levin of Westport, Martha Rubenstein, Amy Levin and Kim Liz Levin of San Francisco, Calif.;. grandchildren: Donald and Jeanna Foster Congdon, Lucas and Jennifer Massey McDonald, Erin McDonald and fiancé Mike Anzel and Alexander Jorgensen. Also, Claudia leaves behind a number of beautiful great-grandchildren and beautiful step-grandchildren, as well as beloved cousins and nieces in Australia.
Claudia’s family is grateful to the many Mystic Healthcare and Hospice caregivers who cared for her. We would also like to acknowledge special thanks to the caring staff at Academy Point at Mystic senior living community.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., Mystic. Burial will follow at the Gales Ferry Cemetery, 14 Hurlbutt Road, Gales Ferry.