Betty (Beck) Jane (Stauffer) Leisey died peacefully on Monday, September 9, after battling a brief illness. Betty was born on May 4, 1931 and the second daughter of James and Miriam (Davis) Stauffer. She grew up in the Downingtown area and in August 1950 she married Robert B. Leisey, who once lived next door to her. After moving 11 times in Pennsylvania and Ohio during their first 9 years of marriage, they settled into their first, and only, home in Blue Bell. Beck, as she was known at the time, worked as a waitress at Blue Bell Inn for 30 years and many customers, including Dick Vermeil, would wait for one of “Becky’s” tables to open. At 63, she retired from waitressing and began her second career as a para-professional aide with the Wissahickon School District. Betty worked at Stony Creek Elementary School helping young students who needed additional support and later worked at Blue Bell Elementary School. She retired at 83 years old, shortly after being moved to the Wissahickon High School, only because navigating three stories of stairs throughout the day was beginning to wear her out. Betty was a member of Ambler’s First Presbyterian Church, enjoyed summers at Mermaid Lake with her family and friends, and loved traveling to Texas (often) to visit her daughter. She also loved cheering on her son and grandson in their sports and coaching careers and watching her granddaughter in dance recitals and on the hockey field. No one loved Philadelphia professional sports more than Betty. She was a huge fan of the Phillies, the Eagles and the Sixers.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her oldest sister Pauline (Polly) Pyle, and her husband, Bob, in 2005. She leaves behind her daughter Sandy Brown and son-in-law Fred, her son Ric and his wife Susan, her granddaughter Pamela Duranti and husband Bill, her grandson Rick, Jr. and his significant other Jamie Hightower and her daughter Paige Abramo, and her precious great-granddaughters Olivia and Mia Duranti. Also surviving are her sister Faye Whiteman of West Chester and brother James (Bud) Stauffer of Coatesville, cousin Janice Bowman of Doylestown and many nieces and nephews scattered across the US. Betty was fun and funny, caring and generous, and dedicated to everything she involved herself with. She was loved and will be missed.
A Celebration of Life for Betty will be held on October 6, 2024 at the Whitpain Tavern (one of her favorite eateries) in Blue Bell, PA. This event will be casual and joyous, just like Betty. The family asks in lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of her husband Bob, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Betty. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month.