Obituary for Elizabeth "Betty" Fitzgerald Arnold
ALBANY – Elizabeth "Betty" Fitzgerald Arnold passed peacefully from this life on Monday, April 17, 2023 at the age of 79.
Betty was born into the loving family of Joseph and Molly (Ryan) Fitzgerald in Albany. A life-long Albany resident, she was a 1961 graduate of Vincentian Institute. Betty spent time working outside the home but her true life’s work was dedicated to her family and her home. She was married to the love of her life, Donald F. Arnold, Sr. on September 2, 1967 in Our Lady of Angels Church, Albany and together they loved and raised their three children, Donald, Jr., Kelli and Erin.
Betty led a life of volunteerism and enjoyed helping people in need. She believed that there were never any strangers in her life, just friends she hadn’t yet met. The doors of her home were always open to family and friends alike and it was truly a gathering place for many. Her children’s friends visited often and were treated so well that many considered “Bet” their second mother. Betty enjoyed hosting large parties in her home, especially on St. Patrick’s Day. Spending time with her classmates from high school, who were referred to as the “V.I. girls” was always a highlight for Betty. She also enjoyed traveling with her family and counted among her adventures trips to Europe, Rockport, Mass as well as cruising and residing in Ireland for a year. Her condominium in Florida provided her much enjoyment in the winter months. Betty will be remembered as fun-loving, sharp witted, kind, generous, proud of her Irish heritage and for always being the life of any party she attended. Loved by many she will be missed by everyone whose heart she touched.
The Arnold family offers their heartfelt thanks to Home Instead Care and the various emergency medical service agencies that responded to and provided care for Betty over the years.
Betty was the beloved wife of 55 years to Donald F. Arnold, Sr.; loving mother of Donald F. Arnold, Jr., Kelli (Gene Basle) Arnold and Erin (Graig) LeBel; cherished Nana of Aiden LeBel; sister of the late William “Bill” Fitzgerald whose wife Linda survives; sister-in-law of the late Terry Arnold whose wife Sue survives; special cousin of Maureen (late Dave) McMahon. Betty is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins both in the US and Ireland.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Francis A. O’Connor on Saturday at 9 am in the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas, 273 Central Avenue, Albany. The Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Colonie. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with Betty’s family on THURSDAY, from 4 until 7 pm at the Bowen & Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Road, Latham.
Betty’s family requests with gratitude that memorial donations be made in her memory and in honor of Sr. Maureen Joyce, RSM, to Catholic Charities Tri-County Services, P.O. Box 28, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
Please visit Betty’s online memorial tribute at www.bowenandparkerbros.com where fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with her family.
Betty was born into the loving family of Joseph and Molly (Ryan) Fitzgerald in Albany. A life-long Albany resident, she was a 1961 graduate of Vincentian Institute. Betty spent time working outside the home but her true life’s work was dedicated to her family and her home. She was married to the love of her life, Donald F. Arnold, Sr. on September 2, 1967 in Our Lady of Angels Church, Albany and together they loved and raised their three children, Donald, Jr., Kelli and Erin.
Betty led a life of volunteerism and enjoyed helping people in need. She believed that there were never any strangers in her life, just friends she hadn’t yet met. The doors of her home were always open to family and friends alike and it was truly a gathering place for many. Her children’s friends visited often and were treated so well that many considered “Bet” their second mother. Betty enjoyed hosting large parties in her home, especially on St. Patrick’s Day. Spending time with her classmates from high school, who were referred to as the “V.I. girls” was always a highlight for Betty. She also enjoyed traveling with her family and counted among her adventures trips to Europe, Rockport, Mass as well as cruising and residing in Ireland for a year. Her condominium in Florida provided her much enjoyment in the winter months. Betty will be remembered as fun-loving, sharp witted, kind, generous, proud of her Irish heritage and for always being the life of any party she attended. Loved by many she will be missed by everyone whose heart she touched.
The Arnold family offers their heartfelt thanks to Home Instead Care and the various emergency medical service agencies that responded to and provided care for Betty over the years.
Betty was the beloved wife of 55 years to Donald F. Arnold, Sr.; loving mother of Donald F. Arnold, Jr., Kelli (Gene Basle) Arnold and Erin (Graig) LeBel; cherished Nana of Aiden LeBel; sister of the late William “Bill” Fitzgerald whose wife Linda survives; sister-in-law of the late Terry Arnold whose wife Sue survives; special cousin of Maureen (late Dave) McMahon. Betty is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins both in the US and Ireland.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Francis A. O’Connor on Saturday at 9 am in the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas, 273 Central Avenue, Albany. The Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Colonie. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with Betty’s family on THURSDAY, from 4 until 7 pm at the Bowen & Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Road, Latham.
Betty’s family requests with gratitude that memorial donations be made in her memory and in honor of Sr. Maureen Joyce, RSM, to Catholic Charities Tri-County Services, P.O. Box 28, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
Please visit Betty’s online memorial tribute at www.bowenandparkerbros.com where fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with her family.