Mary Elizabeth Buckley

Boonville - Miss Betty Buckley, 96, passed away while surrounded by the loving care of her extended family of caregivers at her residence on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. A native of Boonville, Betty was born on June 8, 1912 to Fred M. and Agnes Doyle Buckley. She grew up in Boonville, where her parents owned and operated the Hulbert House Hotel and Restaurant. Betty graduated from Boonville High School with the Class of 1930 and attended Trinity College in Washington, DC, for two years, then the University of Chicago where she was awarded a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1934. She furthered her education at the Teachers College of Columbia University, where she received a Masters degree in Physical Education Following her completion of studies at Columbia, she held the position of Director of Health and Physical Education at the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN for three years. Betty returned to Trinity College to teach for a year, then moved on to Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA, where she held the position of Director of Physical Education and Athletics for thirty-five years. Miss Buckley's professional memberships included the Philadelphia Board of Women's Officials (as a rated swimming official)and the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Board. She also taught ARC swimming programs for the physically handicapped. Locally, Betty volunteered as a Lifesaving Instructor and also directed waterfront activities at the Raquette Lake Girl's Camp. During the years of WWII, Betty served as a weekend driver for the Navy and Air Force as a Navy WAVE. Betty was a faithful communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Boonville where she served as Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of the Altar and Rosary Society. Betty was a wonderful person who always gave of herself to her church and the community. She served on the Erwin Library Board and Friends of the Library. While in her mid-eighties she founded a weekly program of athletic games and physical exercises at Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Boonville, which she led for many years. Until recent times she greatly enjoyed daily exercises and walks around Boonville. She is survived by four nephews, Fred, Shawn and Edward Buckley of San Jose, CA, and Jerome Buckley of Bangkok, Thailand; a niece, Sharon Reynolds of Sheboygan, MI; four cousins, Philip, Paul and Robert Tracy of Liverpool, NY, and Jerry Buckley of Palm Harbor, FL; seven grandnieces, four grandnephews, five great-grandnieces and three great-grandnephews. Her funeral will be Monday at 10:15 a.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street and at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church, 110 Charles Street, both in Boonville. The Reverend David Orzel, pastor of St. Peter's Church, Utica, will be principal celebrant at a Mass of Christian Burial. Concelebrating will be the Reverend Daniel J. Mulhauser, SJ, of Lemoyne College, Syracuse, and the Reverend Donald H. Karlen, pastor of St. Joseph's. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home are Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Church Memorial Fund or Erwin Library.