Elizabeth Cornell, 76, passed away April 3, 2023, in Palmdale, CA. She was born Verna Elizabeth Smith on February 8, 1947, in the Philippines to missionary parents, the late Donald and Verna Smith.
Betty grew up with her three brothers in different places including East Orange, Morristown, Glen Rock, New Jersey and New York City, West Hempstead, Tompkins Cove and Stoney Point, New York.
She graduated from Glen Rock High School and Michigan State with a degree in zoology. She worked for the United Negro College Fund.
Betty then became a stay-at-home mom in Glen Rock, New Jersey--where she would live for the next 27 years. She loved gardening, cooking and baking, all types of music, especially Doo Wop and Mo Town, all types of dancing, and reading with a cat on her lap and snacks by her side.
Betty spent many years as a business manager at Stratton Travel, which allowed her to be able to travel much of the world, including Australia, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, India, and many places in Europe.
In the early 2000’s, Betty worked hard to convert to Judaism. She learned to read and speak Hebrew. She found a community at The Congregation of Temple Avoda in Fair Lawn, New Jersey where she was the recording secretary.
Her next career was selling real estate at Coldwell Banker in Glen, Rock, NJ.
Betty moved to Manchester, New Hampshire around 2005, wanting to be closer to her grandchildren. She went back to school at Southern New Hampshire University for a master’s degree in ESL Education, which she used for her most fulfilling career, teaching English as a Second Language at SNHU. Her students loved her and she really put her heart into teaching them. At least one of them described her as the best teacher he’d ever had.
In December 2020, she moved to California to live with Amanda’s family. She enjoyed her time outside in the sun.
Betty is predeceased by her parents, Donald Pitner Smith and Verna Gabrielson Smith. She is survived by her daughters, Emily Elizabeth Cornell Ruiz (husband Cesar) and Amanda Dawn Lurgio (husband Jon) as well as nine grandchildren: Justin Peter Ruiz, Catherine Marie Ruiz, Luke Xavier Ruiz, Teresa Elizabeth Ruiz, Iliana Cecilia Ruiz, Laura Narcisa Ruiz, Selena Anne Ruiz, Jocelyn Elizabeth Lurgio, and Gabriella Zenaida Ruiz and her brothers Dr. Donald Robert Smith (wife Patricia), Peter Marshall Smith, and Paul Frederick Smith (wife Lee Ann) and many nieces and nephews.
SERVIECES: Visitation will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023, at Davis funeral home from 10am-11am, with a service to immediately follow at 11. Interment and graveside prayer will follow at Mt. Cavalry cemetery in Manchester, NH. Friends and family are invited to attend. “one memory lights another”.