at the age of 81. Born on December 23, 1938 in Staten Island, NY, to
Catherine (Casella) and Raymond Lewis, she was the first of seven
children raised in a tiny apartment on Bay Street. Betty became a second
mother to her siblings and helped to raise them, which only nurtured her
caring, motherly instinct. She was preceded in death by her siblings,
Joseph Lewis, Carol Hill, Barbara Silvestre, and Edward Lewis. She is
survived by siblings, Raymond Lewis and Diane Lewis, and many cousins
and lifelong friends.
One day in the 1960s, Betty took her youngest brother, Eddie, to watch the
stock car races at Weissglass Stadium in Staten Island. There, she caught
the eye of a Navy sailor on leave who asked her out for a cup of coffee.
She agreed, as long as Eddie could come with them. Betty married
Richard Burger on February 19, 1966. He was her loving and devoted
husband for over 54 years and they had three daughters that they raised in
a little house on Decker Avenue, Kathy, Dee and Suzie.
Betty is survived by her loving husband Richard, daughter Kathleen Anne
Burger, son-in-law Moataz El Hout, and their children Youssef and Laila
“Lily”; and daughter Suzanne Smith, son-in-law Samuel Smith, and their
children Talia and Trevor. Betty’s grandchildren were her greatest joy. She
was preceded in death by her daughter Denise Lynn Van der Elst in 2013,
whom she missed dearly. Betty loved and was loved in return by nieces
and nephews spread across the country, Catherine Ann “Katie” Figueroa of
Indiana, Emily Lewis-Torres of North Carolina and her siblings Ray and
Cindy, James Lewis of Staten Island, Joseph Lewis of Staten Island and
Kim Davis of Washington State along with their spouses and children. She
is also survived by sister-in-law Gladys Nichols in Alaska.
Betty enjoyed living in Henderson and frequented Club Fortune Casino,
Dee’s former employer, where she would play her “free” money, even
winning some jackpots and then taking us out for an Italian dinner.
Family was the most important thing to Betty, and friends became family.
Raised in a New York Italian household, she kept her family so close to her
heart. She selflessly cared for others before she cared for herself. When
you met her, you loved her and she loved you.
Betty passed away from cancer at Nathan Adelson Hospice just moments
after her husband Richie spoke to her, while her daughters Kathy and
Suzie held her hands along with Dee in spirit. She was unaware of her
diagnosis until only recently and lived life to the fullest.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Nathan Adelson
Hospice who were so compassionate in caring for Betty in her final days.
Donations can be made in memory of Elizabeth Burger at NAH.org.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 am on October 29, 2020 at St Peter the Apostle
Catholic Church, 204 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015. Burial
will immediately follow at Palm Boulder Highway Mortuary and Cemetery,
800 Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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