Betsy Y. Casey

Betsy Mew Jun Young Casey, to me she was Popo (grandma in Chinese), was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Man Sing Young and Lum Ng and was the second youngest of 9 children, Uncle Robert, Aunty Ethel, Anthony a.k.a. Uncle Aki, (twins) Aunty Loretta, Aunty Anne, Aunty Helen, Uncle Herbert, and Aunty Gladys were her siblings.

Betsy was married to her beloved husband Gilbert S Casey, JR. for 29 years until his passing in 1978. Together they had 5 children. Being the oldest grandchild, I have a lot of fond memories with Popo. Her house was a block away from my elementary school and I would look forward to going to her house after school. I’m sure my family or anyone who visited the old house on Keanu Street remembered the cookies she would bake and keep in a coffee can under the counter near the phone or what about that red square tin right next to it with the li hing mui or rock salt plum that she got from her trips to Chinatown? Just thinking about opening that tin makes my mouth water.

I always looked forward to the weekend because I got to sleepover. Fridays Popo would serve all the leftovers from that week for dinner, then after dinner we would walk to Aunty Helen’s house on Hardesty and I would watch the two of them work on whatever new project they were into. Sometimes I would sit in the living room with Uncle Eddie if he was home from the coffee farm and watch him mend his fishing net while he told me stories.

Every Saturday would be Popo’s grocery shopping day. She would have her list of things to get from 3 or 4 stores. The ones that stuck in my mind would be Gems and Holiday Mart. She would make Holiday Mart her last stop because on her way out she would pick up lunch from the manapua place right in front of Holiday Mart on Kaheka. Manapua, rice cake, nine layer, pork hash, and wun ton mein for Wally. Sundays were a bit more relaxed but she would still get up early and walk to 9th Avenue bakery for pastry and the Sunday newspaper. I always looked forward to the weekends and will think of her whenever I buy manapua.

When she wasn’t working Popo would keep herself busy. Besides projects with Aunty Helen she loved gardening, and because Popo couldn’t resist a good bargain she would go to the Sunday swap meet once in a while with Aunty Gladys and Uncle Mac. She belonged to a seniors club at Kaimuki park. Popo also volunteered her time by helping out at the Red Cross folding bandages and would serve food or sort clothes at the River of Life Mission downtown.

After retirement she did a lot of traveling. She has been on tours to Europe and Asia would alternate every other year with trips to Massachusetts to visit her sister-in-law Barbara and to Virginia to visit her son Clifford and his family. Popo worked hard and had a long life to enjoy the fruits of her labor. She was frugal and spoke her mind but she also loved her family and cared for others.

Thank you for all the memories you have given me Popo, I will cherish the time we had together.

Rest in peace & love.

Betsy is survived by one daughter Beverly (Frank); 4 sons, Clifford (Marjorie), Wally (Vicky), Morris (Gwen), and Andrew; 7 grandchildren, Chrissy (Ryan), Clifford (Janine), Joey (Daisy), Kayla, Madison, Terran, and Jonathan; 8 great grandchildren, Jenna, Colin, Jorie, Haley, Alex, Alyssa, Marlee Rae, and Rylee.

Beloved Mom, Popo, Tai Po, Aunty, and friend you will be dearly missed and forever loved.

Drive-Thru Visitation:

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Borthwick Mortuary, Mauka Chapel

Visitation: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm

Burial to follow at National Memorial of the Pacific (Punchbowl Cemetery) at 1:00 pm

Aloha attire suggested. Flowers welcome. Social distancing and mask wearing required.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BorthwickOahu.com for the Casey family.