Elizabeth ”Betty” Durfee, 82, of Putnam Pike, Greenville, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family after a brief illness on January 21, 2025.
Born in Lynwood, California on March 15, 1942, she was the fourth of six children of the late Kenneth and Mildred (Mead) VanNess. She lived in California for 24 years before moving to Chepachet with her husband Al and their young family in 1965. She moved to the Touissett area of Warren and lived there for 20 years before moving to Greenville.
She is survived by her children, Robin Connelly (husband, Keith) of Star Idaho, Laurie Durfee (husband, John Greenhalgh) of Chepachet, and Matthew Durfee of Chepachet. She was lovingly known as Meema to her four grandchildren, Andrew and Daniel Taghdiri, Matthew and John Greenhalgh, her six great grandchildren: Elliet, Ensley, Mack, Sophia, Beau and Luke and all their friends.
Betty loved being a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She also loved traveling, exploring most of the National Parks and much of Europe. She was an avid gardener and took pride in her neatly manicured window boxes and flower gardens. Betty loved to cook and entertain and always loved having parties and luncheons. She was always the organizer and took on everything from 4th of July floats, canoe trips along the Saco River, to camping adventures as a Girl Scout leader. Betty’s radiant smile and contagious laugh is remembered by many as filling the room with happiness and good cheer.
Professionally, Betty was an educator. She was a teacher and then the beloved Principal at Primrose Hill Elementary in Barrington for many years. Upon retirement, she actively volunteered in reading and literacy associations, the Audubon Society, and was a docent and archivist at Blithewold Manor in Bristol.
All who are able are invited to pay their respects at a Celebration of Life on Sunday, January 26th , 12 to 3pm at Crystal Lake Golf Club, 100 Broncos Hwy, Burrillville, RI 02839. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Greenville Public Library, 573 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI 02828.