Elizabeth Rosengarten James

Elizabeth “Betty” Rosengarten James , age 95, of Monroe, CT passed away peacefully on January 4, 2014 at Maplewood at Newtown. Born in Washington, D. C. on June 30, 1918, she was the daughter of Margaret (Thomas) and Walter E. Rosengarten. Betty grew up in White Plains, N.Y. and later several places in the Philadelphia area. She graduated from Lower Merion High School and then Hood College in 1940. She married William Scott James in 1942. Over the years she lived in nine different states and in each community she was an active volunteer in her children’s schools and the family’s churches. Her various careers involved being a nutritionist and a kindergarten teacher. She also worked at the headquarters of Newcomers and at Strawbridge & Clothier.

Betty was a very giving person and especially took pleasure in her family and special lifelong friends. She loved crossword puzzles, cryptograms, books and summers in Ocean City and Brant Beach, N.J. Among many other things her signature contributions to holidays such as cranberry sauce, sticky buns and knitted Christmas stockings will be greatly missed.

In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was predeceased by her two brothers Walter E. Rosengarten, Jr. and John R. Rosengarten. She is survived by her two children: Dr. William S. James, Jr. (Karen) of Scottsdale, Arizona and Margaret Villani (Ronald) of Monroe; her grandchildren Megan Shields (Chris), Lori Cimeno (Tim), Leah James, Alexander James, and Zachery James: and her two great-grandchildren Katie and Julie Shields. She is also survived by three sisters-in-law Nadia Rosengarten, Jan Rosengarten and Joan James and by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Maplewood at Newtown for their care and kindness. Very special gratitude goes to the “angels” who work in the Currents section.

A Celebration of Life service and interment will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at noon at the West Laurel Hill Cemetery, 215 Belmont Ave.,

Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004. Memorial donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, Georgia 30047. To leave an online condolence please visit www.spadaccinofuneralhome.com