Betty D’Orazio, 92, died quietly on Dec. 14. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Angelo, and her two brothers, Emedio and Elmo Troiani. She is survived by her three children and their families:  Carolyn, her husband Michael and children Dan, Angeline and Steve, and Dan’s daughter Alyssa; also, Antoinette and her husband Bill; and Tony, his wife Connie, and his children Matt, Kristine and Torrie, and Torrie’s children Kaelyn and Owen.

Betty was born in Wilmington, where she graduated from Wilmington High School and worked in her family’s specialty grocery store, Valentino’s Market, located on King Street. Valentino’s was well known in the community as a resource for exotic produce and imported gourmet foods, as well as meat and deli items. At Christmastime, Betty helped create the market’s signature customized fruit baskets for its many customers.

A talented artist, Betty applied her skills to woodworking, sculpture, charcoal drawing, and painting with acrylics, oils, and watercolor. She owned her own kiln and fired pottery at home for her family who still cherishes many of her pieces including pottery, paintings, and furniture. Betty loved all of her creative endeavors and more than once won a prize in Kennett Square’s Christmas decorating contest.

Betty was very active and athletic. She helped coach the swim team at the Kennett Square Golf and Country Club and taught all of her children and grandchildren to swim. She also coached a local girls’ softball team. Her upbeat, friendly personality made her a perfect fit for her job as a hostess at the Three Little Bakers Dinner Theater, and many will remember her as the woman who handed out “Turtle Bread” to contest winners and danced onstage with Baker Nick Immediato. She also volunteered at Longwood Gardens as the greeter at the Pierce DuPont House.

Betty loved the Jersey Shore.  She first spent time in Atlantic City with her mother, then in Wildwood, and finally to Cape May where she spent more than 30 summers vacationing with her extended family. There was nothing she loved more than a day at the beach with her grandchildren, sitting on the sand, swimming in the ocean, walking the boardwalk, and visiting the stores and arcades with them. Betty’s family was always her first priority and she worked hard to establish traditions that will live on for generations. She was a great teacher and passed on her skills of cooking, sewing, all kinds of art, and even filmmaking to her family. She loved gardening, live music, light beer on ice, and dancing. She will be missed by her family and a great number of friends.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Dec. 21, from 10 – 11 a.m. at the Kuzo Funeral Home, 250 West State St., Kennett Square, PA 19348 followed by a graveside service at St. Patrick Cemetery at 11:30.

Contributions may be made in Mrs. D’Orazio’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 16^th floor, New York, NY 10001 or by visiting https://alzfdn.org.

Arrangements by the Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square; please visit Mrs. D’Orazio’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.