Obituary of Elisabeth M. Coman

Wolcott: Elisabeth “Betty” M. Coman, at age 88 years. Predeceased by her husband Charles H. Coman. She is survived by her three daughters, Florence “Betsy” Coman (David Bieth) of Wolcott, Margaret (Jeffrey) Wells of Baldwinsville, and Laura “Tumper” Coman (Roxanne Chirillo) of Webster; two grandchildren, Anna (Douglas) Bell of Lawrenceville, GA, and Charles C. Wells of St. John’s, USVI; brother, Alfred (Kathleen) Marston of Aiken, SC, sister Mardi (Hank) Swain of Nashville, IN; many nieces and nephews, and the extended Hutchinson family. Born in Rochester, NY, Betty lived in Cleveland, OH, and Delmar, NY before her marriage, and moved to Wolcott with her husband in 1946. A graduate of Albany State Teachers College, Betty taught at North Rose-Wolcott Central School for twenty-five years, where she was the chairman of the English department. She directed the Senior Play for several years. She was named Teacher of the Year in 1982. With Alex Bentley she was an original advisor to the National Honor Society at the school and served in that capacity until she retired in 1982. Following retirement, she became a charter member of the Beta Theta chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, the honorary society for women educators. Betty was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wolcott, for sixty years until it closure by the diocese, during that time a vestry member, treasurer, clerk, choir leader, organist, and president of the women’s group. She was a member of the Wolcott Village Board for almost fifteen years, then served on the Wolcott Village Planning Board, as its chair for eight years. Betty was leader of a Girl Scout troop. She was a charter member of the Lioness Club of Wolcott, and served as the club’s president; she became Regional Chairman and Lioness Liaison with the district Lions Club, she wrote the newsletter and participated with the Lions Camp Badger, home of the Empire State Special Needs Experience, Inc. In 2000 Betty was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award by Lions International. Betty and her husband, Charles, were life-long bridge players and gave bridge lessons in the adult education program at North Rose-Wolcott. She enjoyed family, friends, pets, her swimming pool, reading, travel, golf, league bowling, gardening, puzzles, games (especially bridge and Scrabble), and was an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians and Browns. Friends may call on Friday, from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the COLVIN-ROBERTSON-NORTON FUNERAL HOME, 5925 New Hartford Street, Wolcott. A Memorial Service will be held at the Wolcott Presbyterian Church, 10 a.m. Saturday. Interment at the United Methodist Church, French Asylum, PA, where there will be a service for the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Betty’s memory may be made to the Elisabeth Coman National Honor Society Scholarship at North Rose-Wolcott Central School.