Sechrest, Bettina Cleveland of Wellesley Hills, passed away peacefully in her home on August 26, 2023. Born April 28, 1934, to Thomas and Bettina (Starratt) Cleveland ‘Betsy’ grew up in Newton, MA. She attended Smith College, graduating in 1956 with a degree in English. She had various jobs throughout her lifetime, including helping an MIT professor write and publish a book. She married Robert Sechrest on August 4, 1962, after which she stayed home to raise her three daughters.
Throughout her life, Betsy was involved with various groups, including the Wellesley Garden Club and her Smith College Alumnae Association. She was an active member of the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, participating in many ways, such as in the choir and as a Deacon. In 1979 Betsy went back to work full-time at the Hills Church and enjoyed a 20 year tenure there as an Office Administrator and Treasurer.
She loved spending time with family, particularly at her family’s cottage on Lake Sunapee, NH, and at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. She and Bob enjoyed traveling, whether it be exploring New England, or venturing to the wine country of France. Known as an extremely kind and open-minded person, Betsy had many life-long friends. She spent many bridge parties, luncheons, and dinners out with friends.
She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle solver. She had a life-long love of learning. She loved animals and had cats or dogs most of her life. She enjoyed attending the theater and the symphony, going to the movies, and going shopping, usually with one of her girls. And later in life, she became quite the Red Sox fan!
Betsy was predeceased by her husband, parents, and two sisters, Joan Taylor and Constance Cleveland. She is survived by her daughters Anne Dowell, of Acton MA, Holly Sechrest, of Wellesley, and Susan Sandberg and her husband Peter, of Ayer MA; her grandsons Griffin and Tristan Dowell, of Acton; her beloved nephews and their families; and many other loving family members and friends.
The interment will be private. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 16, at 11:30 am, followed by a reception and visitation, at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills, MA, 02481.
Donations in Betsy’s honor can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), or the Loon Preservation Committee (www.loon.org).