Elizabeth “Betty” Sigrid Farrell Dale was born on Oct. 17, 1921, to Helen and Frank Farrell in Buffalo, New York. She died on July 31, 2014 in her Sonoma home. She was the oldest of 13 children and was a true matriarch, in every sense of the word, to her brothers, sisters and their loved ones.
Betty married Edward “Eddie” Daluiso Dale on Aug. 23, 1941. They were married for 55 years when Eddie passed in 1996. They created a very loving and vibrant family of six children – three boys and three girls and 10 grandchildren. Eddie and Betty truly danced through life together and lived for their family.
Betty was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and citizen. Everyone felt loved and welcomed in her home. Big family meals, game nights, dance parties and festive holidays were just some of the regular events that were so much a part of 236 Orchard Drive, where Betty lived for 60 years of her beautiful life.
She worked part time, for almost 20 years, at the Boulevard Federal Credit Union until the age of 85 years old. Betty enjoyed the many friends she met through her work.
Betty spent winters in Sonoma, starting in 2006, and countless summer vacations in Lake Tahoe. In May 2012, Betty moved to Sonoma full time and called Merrill Gardens/Emeritus home for the last two years of her long life. With the majority of her children and grandchildren being spread between San Francisco, Sonoma and Lake Tahoe, Sonoma was the ideal place for her to be close to all of them.
Betty loved flowers, birds, dancing, playing bridge and scrabble, laughter and intellectual conversations about the state of world affairs. Betty was bright and kind and you felt loved and accepted when in her presence. Her favorite quote was “Do unto others as you would like done unto you,” and her life exemplified this quote.
Betty is survived by her six children: Edward Dale, of San Francisco, Diane Dale, of Buffalo, New York, Deborah Dale Wolf, of San Francisco, Douglas Dale, and his wife, Kathleen, of Lake Tahoe, Timothy Dale, of San Francisco and Sonoma, and Michelle Dale Jernigan, of Sonoma. She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren: Russell Dale, of Buffalo, New York, Jason Wolos, of San Francisco, Andrew Dale, and his wife, Kieu Huynh, of Buffalo, New York, Jessica Yawney Jordan, of Buffalo, New York, Justin Dale, of San Diego, Christine Dale, of Lake Tahoe, Bella Dale, of San Francisco, Meg Dale Jernigan, of Sonoma, Kate Dale Jernigan, of Sonoma, Tony Dale, of San Francisco; and her dear extended family of Jerry Wolf, Dawn Rich, James Carrington, Eva Monova and Laurie Smith.
She is survived by five of her 12 siblings: Eleanor Farrell, James Farrell, Kathleen Fellner, Edward Farrell and Kenneth Farrell, all of Buffalo, New York.
Her predeceased siblings are Virginia Farrell, Bernard Farrell, John Farrell, William Farrell, Harriet Nuchereno, Marianne Olick and Alma Andreana. She is also survived by countless Farrells: nieces, nephews, in-laws and they all have very fond and loving memories of Betty.
Betty’s children would like to make a special mention of her friends at Merrill Gardens/Emeritus. In a very short period of time they became special friends in her life.
Her remains will lay to final rest with her beloved husband at Mt. Olivet in Kenmore, New York. In celebration of her amazing life, a West Coast service will take place in Sonoma this September, followed by an East Coast service in Buffalo, New York this fall, her favorite time of year.
Eddie and Betty were both passionate advocates of Equal Rights, therefore, in lieu of flowers please donate to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, Alabama 36104. In memory of member: Elizabeth S. Dale.
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