Betty Mancuso passed away on November 5, 2020, at Swedish Cherry Hill Hospital, Seattle, WA.
Born in Tarrytown, NY, Betty obtained her BS in Nursing from Nazareth College of Nursing in Rochester, NY. She practiced on both the east and west coasts of the US beginning at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown, NY until her retirement from County USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA in December, 2000. During her hospital nursing career she worked in many settings including Medical/Surgical, Intensive Care, and Cardiac Care. She briefly left hospital nursing to become a Social Worker for the NY Department of Social Services, in the Bronx, NY. She returned to nursing helping to treat drug addiction patients in the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program at Beth Israel Hospital, Manhattan, NY. While at County USC Medical Center, she obtained her MS in Education from USC, and she was an in-service educator at County training new nursing graduates. Betty helped establish the first AIDS clinic at the hospital. At retirement she was serving as an Associate Director of Nursing at County USC.
In addition to her professional career, Betty was an exceptional cook, quilter, frequent traveler, backpacker, hiker, skier, bike rider, photographer and a prolific reader of fiction and non-fiction, especially mysteries.
Growing up helping in her mother’s catering business in Tarrytown, she developed her own unique skills and supplemented them with attendance at cooking schools in Florence and Verona Italy and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY. She was a particularly accomplished baker, entering and winning prizes for her breads at the Los Angeles County Fair.
Upon retiring to Bainbridge in 2006, Betty was a committed member of Parks & Rec’s, Ron Williamson led Tuesday walking groups as well as a Friday group composed of Ron’s friends. An accomplished gardener, Betty was a graduate of Washington State University’s Master Gardener Program. She was a multi-year bike rider at Lopez Island’s Tour de Lopez, and she travelled extensively in the United States, western, and central Europe, as well as Canada. Her trips to Africa in 2011 and a Santa Fe School of Photography led photography trip to Cuba in 2013 were particular travel highlights. A decades long quilter, she not only produced beautiful pieces herself, but she never hesitated to provide assistance or advice to others.
Betty is survived by her husband of 51 years, Richard Mancuso, of Bainbridge Island, brother Robert Stiloski of Avon, NJ, her godson John Stiloski, Jr. of Bedford Corners, NY, sister-in-law Annette Stiloski, of Tarrytown, NY, nephew Daryl Stiloski of Montrose, NY and niece Laurie Ann Shelsby of Bel Air, MD.
Above all, Betty was an exceptionally kind, giving, caring and loving person who was always willing to provide help and aid to others. She was a devoted lover of animals, most especially her beloved dog Baker. A wonderful friend and companion, her loss leaves a void in the lives of all who knew her. Rest in peace. We will miss you always.
A post-pandemic celebration of her life will be held when conditions permit safe gathering.
In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to the Kitsap Humane Society (kitsap-humane.org), PAWS of Bainbridge Island (pawsbink.org), Pasado’s Safe Haven (pasadosafehaven.org), or Best Friends (bestfriends.org).
