Bessie Volturno

Bessie (Betty) Volturno, 102, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2024, in Peoria, Illinois. She was born Nov. 27, 1921, to Harry and Lilian Haston in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England; the oldest of three girls. She enjoyed her time with her sisters and friends dancing and socializing. During World War II, she worked at Rolls-Royce where they built Merlin engines for the spitfire and mustang airplanes.

She met her future husband at a small street fair in Coventry when her mom took her and her sisters to visit an aunt. She was watching bumper cars when she met Domenico (Dom) Volturno, an American soldier. They corresponded for over a year before he asked her to marry him. She had to be prepared at a moment’s notice as they didn’t know when he would get leave. On August 11, 1945, they were married. As the war ended, Dad had to return to the states to complete his discharge. Mom arrived later with other war brides on Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) and began her life in the United States in Syracuse, New York with her husband’s family.

From there they moved to Connecticut where their first daughter, Vita-Maria was born. The next year, they moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts where their other 2 daughters, Lisetta and Faith , were born.

In 1959, they moved to Peoria, Illinois as Dom accepted a position at Bradley University. Mom enjoyed Bradley basketball, weekly bowling with the faculty wives, and being involved in many other events on campus. Dom sponsored the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and Betty was involved in activities such as chaperoning events for them at Bradley.

After Dom was tragically killed in 1977, she set up a scholarship in his name at Bradley University. Each year she attended the ceremony and presented the award. In 2019 the Bradley University Alumni Association added Betty to the scholarship to honor her continued commitment to Bradley long after Dom died.

After losing Dom, Betty needed to find purpose in her life. She began working at the district 150’s adult center in their preschool program. She always said that working with children gave her purpose again. She continued to be very involved with Trinity Lutheran Church working on numerous committees including the annual spaghetti supper and helping in the office. She was also the treasurer of the Moss-Bradley Residential Society which helped people fund and preserve homes to their original architecture.

She kept in touch with her family and friends still in England, as well as, those throughout the United States. Mom often stated that she wanted to be remembered as a good wife and mother as this part of her life meant the most to her.

She continued to meet with her Bradley “family” on a regular basis. She was always thinking of others – visiting those not able to get out, making food to share with others, and calling just to check in on friends.

Betty is survived by three daughters, Vita-Maria Schonbrun (Jeff) of Overland Park, Kansas, Lisetta Zahm (Mark) of South Bend, Indiana, and Faith Volturno-Alt (Jeff) of Bloomington, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Ketra Schonbrun Hill, Lindsay Schonbrun, and Colin Alt one sister, Thelma Garner of Derby, England. Betty was preceded in death by husband, Dr. Domenico Volturno, her parents, one sister, Lilian Baldwin and two brother-in-laws, Dr. Robert Baldwin and Stanley Garner.

She leaves behind numerous friends who she dearly loved. A special thank you to Alan Stahl and Kevin Lyons for always watching out for her.

On Friday, September 13, 2024, there will be a visitation at 9:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Peoria, Illinois. The family will attend a private burial following the funeral. Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to their scholarship fund, “Dr. Domenico and Betty Volturno Distinguished Service Award” at Bradley University. It is given yearly to a student who possesses a “commitment to leave the world better off than they found it” which were values that Mom and Dad both demonstrated. Words of comfort can be shared with the family at www.Davison-Fulton.com.