Elizabeth Annette Sowden

Elizabeth Annette Croteau Harasz Sowden of Merritt Island, Florida, died on February 27, 2023. She was born on April 30, 1931 in Rahway, New Jersey, the child of Margaret and Wilfred Croteau. She is preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Jeannette and Grace. Throughout her career as a registered nurse and later as a social worker, she championed education, the environment, meaningful hobbies and was steadfast in her Catholic faith.

Betty married the “love of her life” Anton “Frank” Harasz in 1953. Frank and Betty honeymooned in Miami Beach, got sand in their shoes and moved to Florida, joining Frank’s family in Orlando, finally settling in Merritt Island. From 1954 to 1967, Betty and Frank had eight children: Lorraine, Anton “Tony”, Christine, Philip, Janet, Marybeth, Katherine, and George.

Her love story came to an abrupt end with the unexpected death of Frank in November of 1967. Left with eight children ranging in ages from 2 months to 15 years, Betty did the only thing she knew —she kept calm and carried on. She returned to work full-time as a registered nurse and while completing her Master’s Degree in Social Work at Central Florida University, she met and fell in love with Robert “Bob” Sowden, changed her name to Liz and married him in 1971.

Liz and Bob enjoyed 37 years of traveling, sailing and Shriner’s activities. Liz continued as a founding member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church and School in Merritt Island, took up a serious quilting hobby and served as a High Priestess of Hadji Court #88 of the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America.

Visitation will be on Thursday, March 16th from 1pm to 2:30pm at Florida memorial Funeral Home at Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 South U.S. Highway 1, Rockledge, FL, 32955. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rockledge, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Foundation (www.myeloma.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FloridaMemorialFH-Gardens.com for the Harasz family.