Betty A. Oswill

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Avagliano Oswill was born on September 2, 1931 in Maplewood, New Jersey to her parents, Giuseppe “Joe” Ralph Avagliano and Mary “Mae” C. Garrigan. She was the third of three daughters, youngest sister to Genevieve “Jean” and Rita. She resided in the family’s two story, three generation home her grandfather built with a large part of her extended Italian family just a block away. She often laughed that when the whole family got together for a party with spouses or dates they had a very full house.

Betty attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Columbia High School, where she excelled academically and surprisingly, at 5’1”, was a standout basketball player! From kindergarten through high school she always had two male cousins in her class with her. After graduating high school she worked for the Maplewood Board of Education as a clerk/typist.

Shortly after her high school graduation in 1949 she met a handsome sailor, George Walter Oswill, on a blind date arranged by her cousin Gloria’s sailor boyfriend, Matt. It was love at first sight for both of them. Betty and George were married on April 13, 1952. George passed in 2013. They were very happily married for sixty-one years. They had four children, Diane Oswill Godwin, Karen Oswill Galindo, George Oswill, Jr. and James Oswill. Betty had two sons-in-law, Michael Godwin and Richard Galindo, and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Oswill. Betty had three grandsons, Casey and Joshua Godwin, and Daniel Galindo. She had four great-grandchildren, Kyle and Alyssa Godwin whose parents are Casey and Sarah Godwin, and London and Venice Godwin, whose parents are Joshua and Lucelyna Godwin. Betty was happiest when surrounded by her family celebrating holidays and life events and at simple get togethers.

Two weeks following their wedding Betty and George moved to Glendale, California. Betty was a Glendale resident for 74 years. On her first Sunday in Glendale, she went to Mass in the school auditorium at The Church of the Incarnation while the church itself was still being built! She had been an active, loyal member of the congregation for 74 years! Betty had always been a woman of deep faith, beginning each day in prayer and reciting the rosary…at least once! Any time there was any kind of world crisis or family concern there’d be at least one more rosary that day!

Upon moving to Glendale in 1952 Betty worked for Drewry Photocolor until she became pregnant with Diane. She remained a fulltime “Domestic Engineer” until her youngest son, Jim, entered first grade at Incarnation School. On top of being a devoted housewife and mother she was an accomplished seamstress, avid crafter and phenomenal cook. She enjoyed reading, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, Scrabble, and game shows. She loved to entertain and her home was always available for parties and dinners and meetings. Her love language was food! Fixing it, serving it, eating it! She loved traveling with the senior group at Incarnation and always reported the foods enjoyed ahead of the sights and experiences of the trips!!

Betty became the school librarian at Incarnation Catholic School, and later worked in the office. She worked at the school for thirty-five years. She loved passing on her love of reading to all of the students. The highlight of the year was her annual pumpkin raffle for the kids. She was a tireless volunteer at Incarnation, working at weekly Bingo, the Burger and Hot Dog booth at the school carnivals, selling donuts after the Masses twice a month as “The Holey Ones” and the Hospitality Group, feeding the homeless, working at the St. Joseph’s Table, providing her delicious Pasta e fagioli (bean) soup for the Lenten Soup Suppers and Taco or Spaghetti Salads for church potlucks, helping with the boutique for Busy Fingers, and preparing and hosting Italian dinners as school fundraising auction items. She could never do too much or enough! She was also a generous and consistent donor to all things Incarnation and a myriad of charities.

Betty was always a true and loyal friend to so many and a wonderful, loving confidante, advisor and support to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family. While there’s an ache in our hearts with her passing she has left behind a legacy of faith, love, hospitality and service that will always encourage and guide us until we meet again.