Elizabeth R. Kerr

Elizabeth "Betty" Rose Kerr passed away peacefully at her home on July 2, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of service, joy, love, and community. Born on July 18, 1941, to Scottish immigrants John "Scotty" and Wilhelmina (Gardiner) Kerr. Betty was born and raised in Torrington, Connecticut, and graduated from Torrington High School. In 1959, she joined the United States Air Force, completing basic training and accounting school in Texas before serving at Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod until 1962. During her service in the Air Force, she played basketball for the base team. After her military service, she spent time in Los Angeles before settling back in Connecticut, where she worked briefly at Aetna before beginning a 37-year career at the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) in Hartford, retiring in 2003. Betty made her home on beautiful Andover Lake for nearly 40 years. She is survived and beloved by her devoted spouse of 47 years, Dianne Grenier, her extensive adopted Grenier family, her sister Jessie May Kerr AboHamzy Kannenberg of Palm Coast, Florida, and her nephews, John AboHamzy of Torrington and Harry AboHamzy of Palm Coast, FL. She was predeceased by her brother, William Kerr. Betty's life reads like a beautiful tapestry - woven from service, adventure, deep friendships, and cherished traditions. She was easy to love, with a quiet soul and a vibrant spirit. She embraced life with humor, warmth, and boundless love. She touched many hearts, bringing love and joy to all she met. Betty found joy in simple pleasures: Waterskiing and snow skiing in her youth and riding her motorcycle, floating on Andover Lake, DQ Blizzards, attending movies, and Trivial Pursuit game nights with friends. She loved to review photo albums capturing her many travels, including visits to the Panama Canal, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Hawaii, and extensive travels across the U.S. Her last trip was down the Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans on a paddle wheel steamboat. Fall foliage trips to Vermont with the children in her extended Grenier family brought her much joy. Betty could be found on a warm summer day on her dock offering up a variety of Klondike bars to friends and family floating in the lake. Her fondness for the color blue earned her the nickname "Betty Blue." Her heart and face always lit up at the sight of giraffes, puppy visits, and tall ships. Betty introduced the Grenier family to her favorite old-time tune, "Heart of My Heart," which soon became her signature song shared by the Grenier "key-chain singers" at family gatherings. Betty was proud of her Scottish heritage, fond of saying she was "100% Scot with no water". She was known for her passion for UCONN Women's basketball - attending both local games with her friend Russ Evans and WNBA Final Four games across the country with a small group of dear friends, lovingly earning her the nickname "UCONNBetty". Betty generously gave back to her community. She was the treasurer and a proud member of the Andover Friends of the Library, and would happily volunteer to sell pizza and soft drinks during the annual auction. As a founding member of the Andover CART program, she sorted bottles and cans to support recycling efforts. She was a member of the CT DEEP Aquatic Resource Education Program, helping to teach novice anglers how to fish. Betty worked the water table at road races around Andover Lake, and at Christmas time, she was often seen as a Santa's Elf with Mrs. Claus. She was always a willing participant in the many other community projects Dianne found for them. Throughout her life, and especially during her courageous nine and a half year journey with Alzheimer's, Betty embodied dignity, strength, compassion, kindness, and above all, love. She will be remembered as a cherished friend, beloved family member, and vibrant soul. Calling hours will be Friday, July 11th, 2025, at Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center Street, Manchester, from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. As a tribute to Betty Blue, please consider wearing something blue. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 12th, at 10:00 a.m. at Andover Congregational Church, 359 Route 6, Andover, followed by burial at Townsend Cemetery on Townsend Road in Andover. In place of flowers, donations in Betty's honor may be made to Masonicare Hospice Home Care, 309 Otrobando Ave., Norwich, CT 06360. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Elizabeth, please visit our Tree Store.