Elizabeth Cregan

Elizabeth (Betty) Rose Cregan (née Don Vito) died peacefully in hospice on May 5, 2025. Born in Albany, New York, on April 9, 1944, Betty was the fifth child of Nicholas Don Vito (of Ginosa, Italy) and Rose Grieco (of Bernalda, Italy), both of whom emigrated to the United States in the early 1900's. Betty grew up on Madison Avenue, the center of Albany's Italian community, and attended the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception School and Parish.
After graduating from Cardinal McCloskey High School in 1962, Betty attended St. Peter's School of Nursing (Albany), earning a Registered Nurse (RN) diploma in 1965. During her nursing career Betty chose to support patients in moments of profound vulnerability and transition, initially as a pediatric nurse at St. Peter's Hospital and later as a geriatric nurse (Mt. Augustine in Richfield, Ohio).
Dedicated as Betty was to her nursing career, her most cherished role was that of a mother. She married Gregory J. Cregan on October 1, 1966, and eventually settled in Brunswick, Ohio, where they raised their family. As a young mother Betty was deeply involved in the lives of her three daughters, advocating for the best possible education, supporting their various activities, attending every sporting event, and nurturing in them a spiritual foundation.
In her later years, Betty lived in Toledo, Ohio, near her daughter Barb and her granddaughter Cassie. She was an active member of the Swan Cove Apartments community and enjoyed spending time with her family. The final years of her life were spent at Lakes of Monclova senior living community, where she was beloved by the staff and earned a reputation as an excellent bingo player.
Betty was predeceased by her husband, Gregory J. Cregan; by her siblings, Michael Don Vito, Grace Pappas, Esther Roddy, and John Don Vito; her beloved aunt and godmother, Elizabeth (Zizi) Grieco; and by her son-in-law Kevin Bouknight. She is survived by her daughters, Kelly Cregan of Silver Spring, Maryland, Barbara Libstorff (Greg) of Toledo, Ohio, and Jennifer Bouknight (J. Dexter Edge) of Alpharetta, Georgia, and by her beloved grandchildren, Cassandra Ott (Tyquan
Statham), Kenna Bouknight, Juliauna Bouknight, and Jax Bouknight.
The family offers their deepest gratitude to the staff of Lakes of Monclova for their dedicated care.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 11am at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, 4201 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo, Ohio 43614. The family will greet friends in the narthex from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.
Donations in Betty's honor may be sent to Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo ().