Blanche Elizabeth Wonseski-Chagnon (Reil) age 86, known as Betty or Aunty Betty died on February 11th at Saint Mary Manor, Lansdale.
Born on September 3, 1928, she was the daughter of the late James and Blanche Richards Reil. She was raised by her grandparents Nellie and Peter Reil. She grew up in Turners Falls, MA where she attended St. Anne’s School and learned to read lips and speak both English and French.
Betty held various jobs in her young life babysitting, working in tobacco and working in some of the local mills.
She married Anthony Wonseski, Sr. and they made their home in South Deerfield, MA. They had 4 children: Anthony Wonseski. Jr., Frank, Edward and Mary. Both Frank and Mary died as infants. Her husband Anthony died at age 46 in 1970.
Betty worked as a cocktail waitress at the Moose Club in Greenfield, a nurses’s aid at the Hillside Nursing Home and did housecleaning for various people over the years. Betty lost her best friend, Eleanor Breor, to cancer. Betty thought of Eleanor as her sister whom she missed everyday until the day she passed away.
Many years later, Betty married Noel F. Chagnon after a four year engagement. They were married for 14 years and made their home in Bernardston, MA. They enjoyed taking rides, entertaining friends, visiting friends and relatives and an occasional vacation to Gorham, NH. Noel passed away unexpectedly at age 76 and Betty chose to move to Pennsylvania to live with her youngest son Edward.
Betty enjoyed 17 years of retirement in Pennsylvania with her dog Jolie until she passed away at age 16. She was very fond of 4 people who walked Jolie and checked in on her when Edward was at work. She loved Keith Bauer, Emma Ricciardi, Alyssa Hoos and Caitlyn Hoos as grandchildren.
Betty leaves behind her sons Edward Wonseski, Anthony Wonseski, Jr. and his wife Dolby and their 2 children Monique Pydych: and Lauren Ravindran and well as many special friends of all ages.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass on Monday, February 16th at 10AM at St. Stanislaus Church, 51 Lansdale Ave, Lansdale, PA. 19446 where the family will receive friends Monday morning from 9 to 10AM. Interment at a later date at Holy Name of Jesus Cemetery in South Deerfield, MA.
For those desiring, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions the Metropolitan Veterinary Associates, Paws of Promise Foundation, c/o Veterinary Care Foundation, 16550 New 46th St., Morriston, FL. 32668 would be preferred.