Elizabeth ("Betty") Yamin

Elizabeth Margaret (“Betty”) Yamin

ELIZABETH MARGARET (“BETTY”) YAMIN, age 99, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon after a short illness, surrounded by her entire loving family, and joined in spirit by her beloved Lord and late beloved husband, Joe.   Almost until her last breath, each time any one of us approached her, she told us “I love you!”   She was the kindest, most giving, selfless and spiritual human being any of us had ever known.

            Betty was born in Zgharta, Lebanon on January 2, 1924, and between then and now not only saw the world change in a thousand ways, but throughout her life changed it for the better in a thousand ways.  She emigrated to America at age 11, and eventually met her beloved husband of 63 years, Joe, who predeceased her 13 years ago.  They were married at the old Lebanon American Club on New Street in Danbury, right after the War and Joe’s return from the Army, and the guests donated their meat rations to the couple so that they could have a proper wedding celebration.   How American!   They were quintessential exemplars of the Greatest Generation.  Betty was the hardest working person we had ever known, and so typical of Danburians.  For example, she worked at “Bardens” for many years, a Danbury institution where seemingly innumerable Danburians had worked at one time or another.

            Throughout her life, Betty was a woman who, when handed a plate full of food, would canvass everyone in the room asking if they “wanted some”, before she would take a bite.  She sacrificed for all of us, and for others, every day of her life.  Growing up in the new “suburbs”, her children witnessed her feeding and fawning over many of the kids in the neighborhood who knew they were welcome to drop by at any time, until it became commonplace to have one of them at the kitchen table on any given school day.   She was a comforting, supportive presence for those who would happily spend time with her.  To this day, those children fondly remember her as a sort of second mother.  Into her 99th year, she insisted on helping with the housework whenever she would visit her children.  The cliché “they don’t make them like her anymore” perfectly described her.

            Other than her beloved family, her Lord and her Church – St. Anthony Maronite Roman Catholic Church, and her beloved Pastor Farther Naji J. Kiwan – clearly were the lodestars in Betty’s life.  She attended Church every Sunday, almost until the last day.  She also delighted in afternoon drives and daytrips, social gatherings at the Lebanon-American Club and elsewhere, and family visits to the homes of friends.

            Betty is survived by her three beloved children, Robert J. Yamin and his wife Judge Dianne E. Yamin; Linda A. Arrington (her devoted daughter, long-time caregiver, and best friend); and Raymond P. Yamin; her grandchildren, Rebecca, Samantha, Susan, William, Jane, Michael, and Rob; and five great-grandchildren, Adrianna, Jayden, Leah, Jack and Courtney; and two great-great grandchildren.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Joseph G. Yamin, and six brothers and sisters.   Truly she was the last of her kind and her family’s generation.  We have sadness in our hearts, but much more joy for the memories of her innate goodness and the ways she touched and inspired our lives.

            The family will receive friends on Friday, Nov. 10th, at St. Anthony Church, 17 Granville Ave., Danbury, CT 06810, from 4 to 7PM, with a mass of Christian burial at St. Anthony’s at 10AM on Saturday, Nov. 11th, followed by interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery.  Contributions in Betty’s memory may be made to St. Anthony Maronite Roman Catholic Church, 17 Granville Ave., Danbury, CT 06810 (phone (203) 744-3372).  

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