Elizabeth D. Girasole

Elizabeth (Betty) Patricia Dorthea Van Patten Girasole, 96, of Dunwoody, GA-- beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend--passed away peacefully on July 12, 2025 at Emory St. Joseph Hospital in Atlanta.

A native of Troy, New York, Elizabeth was affectionately known as ‘Betty’ or ‘Miss Betty’ and was loved by all who knew her. She was known for her sweet personality, her fashion sense, her open mind, her amazing cooking skills, and her acts of kindness, even to strangers. She loved mystery novels, scary movies, and spending time with her family. As a child, she spent summers in Saratoga Springs, NY, with her family and later continued that tradition with her own children. She loved traveling, with Canada, Italy, San Francisco, New Orleans, Orlando, the Caribbean, Nashville, Hilton Head, Savannah, Charleston, Fort Worth, and Rosemary Beach among her favorite destinations. She also loved fall trips to the North Georgia Mountains and attended the Opening Ceremony for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Betty lived a remarkable life filled with great joy. After raising her children as a homemaker and assisting with her husband’s successful real estate investment group, Betty helped care for her grandchildren for many years. Later, she reinvented herself at age 63 and went to work outside the home for the first time. She loved working as Head PBX operator with the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) in Orlando and Atlanta for 24 years. She was recognized as ‘Employee of the Year’ eleven times and received many other awards. She retired from the Intercontinental Hotel Group at age 87 in 2017 and began volunteering at Emory University Hospital. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ and was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, GA.

Betty was preceded in death by her late husband of 32 years, Arthur Earl Girasole; and her parents Earl Van Patten and Mary Agnes Cohen, as well as all of her ten siblings. She leaves behind a loving family: Gary Girasole (& son in law Michael Hegert, whom she regarded as one of her own) of Dunwoody, GA; Arthur Girasole (Mary) of Orchard Park, NY; Kevin Girasole (Mary Karen) of Lewiston, NY; Kimberly Ann Girasole of Sandy Springs, GA; grandchildren, Allison, Emily, Shannon, Megan, Kevin, and Keely; great granddaughter Avery; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many friends she considered family.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 18th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at H.M. Patterson and Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road NE; Sandy Springs, GA 30328. A private Mass will be held at St. John de LaSalle Catholic Church, 8477 Buffalo Avenue; Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Niagara Falls, NY.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful Emory doctors for the care they’ve provided though the years, as well as the caring and loving staff at The Georgian Lakeside.