Elizabeth “Betty” Christensen passed away March 30, 2015, twelve days before her 100th birthday. She was born in Collingdale, PA on April 11, 1915, and has been a resident of Newtown since 1953.
Betty was predeceased by her husband, Willard L. Christensen, who was warden of the Borough of Newtown at the time of his death in 1980. She is survived by her two nieces, Elaine Storlazzi and her husband Dr. J. Jordan Storlazzi, Jr. OF Wilmington, DE; and Jeanne Reed OF Clayton, DE. She is also survived by her grandniece Kimberly Eroh and her grandnephew Brett Landis and their families. Betty is also survived by her “Chinese Son” Tony Chuang; and her “Asian DAUGHTER” Lek Crouch; as well as their respective families.
Betty’s extended family also includes Jeffrey Doyle and his family of Ridgefield. Mrs. Christensen attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art, which later became the University of the Arts. She was employed as a Commercial Artist at the A. Paul Lefton Advertising Agency, and also at McKee & Albright in Philadelphia. When she and her husband moved to Connecticut she continued to freelance several accounts from the agency. Her attention quickly turned to fine art when she saw an exhibition of watercolors by students of Herb Olsen in Westport. Studying with him for two years, she was introduced to several national art organizations where she began showing her work in New York City. Betty was a signature member of American Watercolor Society in New York; an honorary member of Allied Artists, New York; A signature member of Hudson Valley Art Association; New England Watercolor Society; Connecticut Watercolor Society; New Haven Paint & Clay Club; and Kent Art Association. Locally, she was very active in the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) and exhibited widely up and down the East Coast. Mrs. Christensen was an original member of Walnut Hill Church, which became her church family. Psalm 92:14 was one of her favorite verses, which she tried to live by. For 15 years she was a volunteer at Danbury Hospital where she often painted large scenes for the enjoyment of the children in the Pediatrics Department. She also enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels as a volunteer for over 20 YEARS, as well as volunteering at the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen.
She was a lover of nature and enjoyed being out of doors. Her passion was working in her garden and skiing in the Alpines Regions of Europe, hiking, and painting on location. In her figure skating years, she was secretary of the International Figure Skating Club in Philadelphia. There will be a celebration of Betty’s life at 12 noon on Saturday April 11, 2015, at Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road, Bethel, CT 06801. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to F.A.I.T.H. Food Pantry, PO Box 53, Newtown, CT. 06470. The Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown is serving the family.