Betty A Sheridan

Born in Montclair and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, Betty was the third of five children born to Thomas and Mary (Higgins) Sheridan. Her siblings were brother Thomas Sheridan, and sisters Mary Forrester, Virginia McManus and Patsy Maron.

In 1946, Betty moved to California to join her sister, Mary, working at the China Lake Naval Ordinance Test Station. She made lifelong friends, joined the China Lake Ski Club and enlisted in the United States Navy Reserves. Mary, her husband Bob, and their three children really appreciated Betty's presence. She took the kids to the movies, to the snow, hiking, and swimming.

In 1963, she joined the Foreign Service. She spent the next four decades traveling the globe and serving US interests abroad. She began her foreign service career in Iraq and later served in England, China, Africa, Syria, Indonesia, Central and South America. She was fiercely independent, adventurous and brave. On multiple occasions, she was deployed in war torn countries and served alongside Marines to shut down US embassies. One summer, as a 35 year old single woman living in Morocco, she and a coworker took a road trip from Rabat to Stockholm and back. Even though she traveled abroad, she always stayed close to her family. She loved hosting her family members in foreign locales.

Betty retired to Palm Harbor, Florida in 1994. She was a devoted member of St. Luke's The Evangelist Catholic Church. She was delighted to be near her sisters (Patsy & Virginia), brother (Tom) and their families. She enjoyed participating in family events.

The Pearl Team of Suncoast Hospice and the staff at HarborChase Memory Care Unit took good care of her the last five months of her life. Betty outlived her siblings and their spouses. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Luke's at 10am on December 21, 2021. A graveside service at Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens will be held after.