Betty B. Kesseli

Greenland - Betty Barnett Kesseli died peacefully on March 29, 2022 at her son’s home in Greenland NH, at the age of 97. She and her husband Richard V. Kesseli were married for 72 years, before his passing in May 2021. They raised three children; Kathryn E. Guimard (deceased, 2019), Richard V. Kesseli Jr. of Milton MA and James B. Kesseli of Greenland NH with nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Kesseli was educated in White Plains, NY schools, Syracuse University, and graduated from the Traphayeu School of Fashion Design & Illustration. At the start of WWII she volunteered at White Plains Hospital helping with the severe nursing shortage during the war. She worked at B. Altman & Co. before marriage in 1949. After her children were of school age, she continued volunteering at Memorial Hospital for over 30 years, and as a Cub Scout leader and Girl Scout leader and was active in P.T.A. and teaching Sunday school. She belonged to the First Congregational Church of Holden and the Holden Garden Club. Betty maintained a close friendship with four girls from her kindergarten class. As they were called the “Five Fun Finders”, Gloria Box, Anne Munier, Mary Lee , and Dorothy “Dot” Potter, met regularly with their “Five Faithful’ husbands for each other’s wedding and celebrations over a span of eight decades. Born in Decatur Ill, Betty grew up Dallas, TX and White Plains, NY with her parents, Paul and Elise Barnett and twin brother, Paul. Betty spent many of her childhood summers at her grandmother’s home, the “Eagle’s Nest”, in Sparta Tennessee, with her cousin Mary Eagle Keith. She met Richard “Dick” Kesseli in the mid 1940’s, at a neighborhood party of friends. They were married October 22 1949. They lived briefly in Rochester NY before moving to Holden in 1952, spending 68 years in their home on Wyndhurst Drive. Betty was a dedicated ‘hockey-mom’ for her two boys, as well as den-mother for her daughter and sons. She enjoyed painting and drawing, producing many treasured works of art for her family and friends. She was a lifelong member of the Holden Congregational Church, where she leaves behind seemingly hundreds of dear friends. Services were held at 11 am on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the Holden Congregational Church, 1180 Main St., Holden, MA 01520. Burial was in the Hope Cemetery, 119 Webster St., Worcester, MA 01608 .

Betty B. Kesseli

March 12, 1925 - March 29, 2022