Betty Leone Gifford, October 7, 1931 – July 29, 2024 . Submitted photo.
Betty Leone Gifford
October 7, 1931 – July 29, 2024
Betty Leone Gifford (nee Karvonen) passed away Monday, July 29, 2024. She was born and initially raised in Ahmeek, a tiny town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on October 7, 1931. Her family moved briefly to Ishpeming, Michigan, before relocating to Scituate, Massachusetts, and finally settling in Fairhaven, where she resided for most of her life.
Betty graduated from Fairhaven High School in 1948, at the tender age of 16, having been accelerated through school for about one and a half years, after school administrators recog-.nized her intelligence. In November 1949, Betty married Donald Gifford, and they remained married for nearly 62 years, until Donald’s death in June 2011. They had three children: Deborah, who lives with her husband William Griggs in Moneta, Virginia; Paul, who lives with his wife Diann Sokoloff in Moraga, California; Carol who lives with her husband Joseph Battaglia in Greenville, Rhode Island.
Betty is also survived by her younger brother, Richard Karvonen, who lives with his wife Claire in Middleboro, Massachusetts, ten grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, two great, great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Betty worked for the Fairhaven Public Schools for twenty years, as an administrative assistant at Hastings Middle School, which all three of her children attended while she was employed there. During her retirement, Betty selflessly volunteered at Project Independence in New Bedford and at the Adult Education Program, where she worked with people learning English as a second language. Her volunteer efforts earned her an award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, presented to her at a ceremony in Boston.
In her retirement, Betty enjoyed traveling for many family vacations, to her husband, Donald’s, World War II Navy ship reunions, and to Las Vegas. Betty and Donald traveled around New England to watch their grandkids play various sports. She was a prolific knitter, producing innumerable blankets, sweaters, hats, and booties for friends and family. Betty enjoyed playing slot and video poker machines, bingo, and card and board games. She was a vicious competitor, even when playing with her grandchildren.
Betty will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, their extended and blended families, surviving relatives, and her friends, especially her friends in the condominium building at 915 Hathaway Road in New Bedford, where she lived for the last years of her life.
Arrangements were by Fairhaven Funeral Home earlier this month. For memorial register please visit, www.hathawayfunerals.com. Memorial donations may be made in Betty’s name to Angel Wings @ Southcoast VNA, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719.
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