Elizabeth Barrett

Rensselaer- Elizabeth "Betty" Hawk Barrett 92, died peacefully at home May 23, 2016 with her devoted husband Jack by her side. Betty was born in Shamokin, PA on November 12, 1923, the first child of Harry Hawk and Elizabeth Schmidt. She graduated from Coal Township High School in 1942 and left soon after for Atlantic City, NJ. There, while waiting on tables for the Coast Guard during WW II, she was spotted by Radioman Jack Barrett, who told a friend "I'm going to marry that girl"-and he did- on June 18, 1944 in Rensselaer, a marriage that lasted over 71 years. When they moved to Rensselaer in 1958, Betty was welcomed into the "Card Club", "What great friends we had", she recently said. Among her fondest memories were visiting the Irish cousins in Limerick, attending Broadway shows, serving up her famous potato pancakes, and jitterbugging with Jack. Betty's family was very poor during the Depression in Pennsylvania coal country. Perhaps because of that, she grew into a gracious and appreciative person who had many lasting friends. She is survived by her loving husband Jack; 5 children: John (Joanne) Barrett, James Barrett, Kathleen Kent, Nancy Barrett and Sharon (Colin) Campbell; 11 grandchildren: Jennifer (Christopher), Daniel (Tammy), Liam (Sarah) and Sean Barrett, Brian (Melissa) Kent and Laura (Michael) Dalton; Amelia, Charlotte and Holden Ellis; Graham and Shannon Campbell; 6 great grandchildren: Addison and Kealey Barrett, Eden and Madeleine Dalton, Colin Gamello, and Jackson Barrett; and sister-in-law Mary Ellen Barrett and her daughter Lisa McGrail; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings: Hattie, Harry, John, Shirley and Patricia. Funeral from the W. J. Lyons Funeral Home 1700 Washington Avenue Rensselaer Friday morning at 9:00 and 10:00 at St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church Herrick Street Rensselaer where a Funeral Mass will be offered. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home Thursday from 4-7 PM. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery East Greenbush.