Gabrielle "Betsy" Blow

Gabrielle M. “Betsy” Blow, 91, passed away peacefully at home on July 2, 2019, surrounded by family who then toasted her final journey with Champagne in tribute to her reunion with Dad. Born February 5, 1928, in Burlington, Vermont to Joseph "Dan" & Blanche Audette, Betsy was one of 10 children. They lived at 406 North Street where she and her siblings had a huge backyard filled with gardens and trees in which to play and explore. After WWII ended, her brothers returned to a time when housing was expensive and difficult to find, hence the entire family helped to clear this land and build their own homes. Eventually named Dan’s Court, they created a compound of three 2-story homes for the newly married and growing families.

Betsy attended Nazareth Grammar and Cathedral High School, graduating with the Class of 1945. She was an excellent student, receiving highest honors in Bookkeeping, then working at Wright and Morrissey and Champlain Valley Fruit after graduation. Betsy was very popular and dated a lot, until she met the love of her life, Tommy Blow. Marrying in 1951, they had 5 children - Danny, Kathy, Jayne, John and Andrew. They lived on Dan’s Court for many years, spending summers at camp on Porter’s Point in Colchester, affectionately know as “The Blow-In” until eventually selling the camp and house on Dan’s Court for a year-round home on Porter’s Point Rd. Throughout their lives, there was a constant flow of friends and family as Tom & Betsy hosted many parties and family reunions. They were both very loving and family-oriented and would always find the time or money (Mom taking in small business bookkeeping jobs while her kids were in school and Dad working 3 jobs) to help those who needed it most. Mom was always very active in school affairs (“My Mother will do it!”) while maintaining a very busy schedule as a full-time professional homemaker.

They moved to Daytona Beach, Florida in 1985 while Andrew was still a teenager. Dad continued to work and Mom was able help her sisters care for their ailing Mother while still supporting Andrew at school and working at Romie’s Cleaners. Mom and Dad enjoyed almost 20 years of retirement before her health began to fail and Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Mom found an amazing level of strength and determination to care for him at home, full-time, with the help of her children. Dad was secure and happy to live at home until his passing in October 2018.

Steadfast in her Catholic faith, Mom remained focused and got her affairs in order waiting for God to call her home. Her greatest wish was to be reunited with her beloved husband Tommy in heaven, where she knew he would be waiting for her.

Betsy is survived by her 5 children: Dan Blow (partner Larry Wilhelm), Kathy Clavelle (husband Raymie), Jayne Blow, John Blow (wife Deanna), and Andrew Blow. She adored her 7 grandchildren: Tei, Adam (wife Katie), Alex (wife Molly), Dylan, Jake, Tyra, and Ryan, as well as Tei’s son & the only great-grandson Toshi. Betsy is survived by three siblings: Blanche Bradley, Theresa Campbell, and Yvonne Campbell (husband Donald). She was predeceased by her siblings Rene, John, Marguerite, Arthur, Marie, and Gerald.

Special thanks to Dr. Driggers, nurses Holly and Harriet at Florida Health Care and the Halifax Hospice team, Heather, Amber, Ashley and all the CNAs for all they did for Mom.

A private celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, FL.