Elizabeth Mary Halbritter "Betty" Spellman

Elizabeth Mary Spellman, known to everyone as Betty, the wife of John William Spellman, Jr. (“Jack”) of New Bern, NC, her husband of more than 67 years, died March 14, 2017 at age 88. Born Elizabeth Mary Halbritter on a farm in Lincoln, RI on April 9, 1928, Betty was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth (McCoy) Halbritter and William E. Halbritter. Betty grew up in Pawtucket, RI and was a 1945 graduate of West Senior High School, which had been built by her beloved uncle, Thomas P. McCoy, long-time mayor of Pawtucket. An only child, Betty delighted in the company of her many cousins and friends. She met Jack in the spring of 1946 while in her freshman year at Pembroke College in Brown University. They married in Pawtucket June 25, 1949, a week after her graduation from Brown, in a wedding ceremony conducted by Jack’s uncle, Francis Cardinal Spellman of New York.

Betty was a talented lyric soprano who majored in music at Brown. She was considering enrolling at the Julliard School in New York and pursuing a professional music career when marriage and family intervened. Betty raised her six children in Milton, MA, Longmeadow, MA, Irvington, NY and Ridgefield, CT, before relocating to New Bern in 1977. Upon moving to New Bern, she transitioned from homemaking and became a respected real estate agent; winning many leadership awards before retiring about ten years ago. Throughout it all, Betty was devoted to her family and friends, and especially to her beloved husband Jack. Betty maintained a resilient upbeat attitude toward life that was an inspiration to all that knew her. A woman of deep religious faith, Betty was a communicant of Saint Paul Catholic Church.

Betty’s husband Jack survives her, as do six of her children; John T. Spellman and his wife Cynthia McCollum of New York, NY, Thomas P. Spellman of New Bern, NC, Richard H. Spellman and his wife Lucy of Randolph, MA, Edward J. (“Ned”) Spellman of New Bern, NC, James F. Spellman and his wife Katie of Hallsville, TX and Mary E. Telfer of Wendell, NC, in addition to twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral for Betty Spellman will be Friday, March 17, 2017, at 11 am in Saint Paul Catholic Church, 3005 Country Club Rd, New Bern, NC, followed by a private graveside service at Greenleaf Memorial Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday, March 16, 2017 from 4-7 pm at the Cotten Funeral Home, 2201 Neuse Blvd, New Bern.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chrystal Coast Hospice House, 100 Big Rock Weigh, PO Box 640, Newport, NC 28570. Messages of condolence may be addressed to John W. Spellman, Jr., 315 Plantation Drive, New Bern, NC 28562.

Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory.

Online condolences may be made to the Spellman Family at