Betty Ann Rich

Rich, Betty Ann AUSTIN, Texas Betty Ann Rich passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at one of her son's homes in Austin, surrounded by friends and family after a long battle with cancer. She was just shy of celebrating her 85th year of bringing joy to all with whom she came into contact. Betty, also known as "Betty Boop," was born in Pittsfield, Mass. to Harold and Gertrude Sexton as Betty Ann Sexton. She and her cousins from a large clan of Sextons grew up in and around Pittsfield and upstate New York and remained lifelong friends. Albany called to her after graduating from Pittsfield High School and she became a resident of Albany thereafter. Betty was employed throughout her life in the Albany area as child duties would allow. During this time she worked for, among others, the Capital Region Human Resource Association and was a longtime board member of the Albany County Association for Retarded Children (FKA, New Visions), was a board member of the youth advisory board for Albany County, the Capital District Chapter for Autistic Children and the National Association of Vocational-Technical Education Communicators. She also served on committees for OMRDD Summer Camp (New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities). She was absolutely committed for the last 50 years of her life to helping others challenged by disabilities. Her inspiration was her late son, Tim Rich. Betty was a widow for many years having lost her late husband, Martin J. Rich, in 2001. She was also predeceased by her son, Tim Rich, who passed away in 2008. She is survived by two sons, Michael J. Cramer of Austin, who is married to one of her shopping buddies and general mischief collaborators, Christy Gallow-Cramer, and Gary J. Cramer of Euless, Texas. She was also survived by a brother, Ken Sexton, who was often seen walking the streets during various parades in Pittsfield in full clown regalia; a sister-in-law, Mary Skeals of Albany; nine grandchildren living all over the country, four great grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and large numbers of cousins and extended family. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 N. Allen St., Albany on Sunday, November 10, 2013, from 3 to 6 p.m. A service will be conducted at 6 p.m. that same evening. Please use doors on North Allen Street to enter funeral home. A graveside service will be held Monday, November 11, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Those wishing to remember Betty Boop in a special way may send contributions in lieu of flowers to Albany ARC, 334 Krumkill Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159 or Hospice Austin, which provided such great and gentle care of her over the past month, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX 78759. To leave a message for the family, obtain directions, or view other helpful services, please visit McveighFuneralhome.com.