| Date of Birth | March 10, 1931 |
| Date Deceased | December 23, 2024 |
| Hometown | Bath |
| Home State | N.Y. |
| Service Date | January 4, 2025 |
| Service Time | 4 p.m. |
| Service Location | Avoca Baptist Church |
| Interment Location | Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Elmira |
Betty J. Rossi
BATH – Betty J. Rossi of Bath, NY, formerly of Elmira, NY died Monday (Dec. 23, 2024) at the Three Rivers Health Care Facility in Painted Post, NY.
Born in Elmira on March 10, 1931 she was the daughter of the late Edward and Elizabeth Personius. On March 26, 1949 she was married in Elmira to the late Phillip A. Rossi, Jr., who died in 2010 after 61 years of marriage.
During her business career she was a gifted artist and the owner of several antique shops in Corning, NY, Hammondsport, NY and Kutztown, PA where she practiced her artistry in crafting, displaying and selling her exotic and antique doll collection along with many other rare and sought after antiques and artifacts.
She is survived by two children, her daughter, Eileen Rossi of Bath and her son, Phillip A. Rossi III of Allentown, PA; along with grandchildren, Heather Toolan, Anthony Phillip Rossi, Rhiannon Rossi and Sarah Stahl; seven great-grandchildren, Falisha, Sasha, Donovan, Kaylin, Roxanne, David “DJ” and Adam; seven great-great-grandchildren, Hayden, Tanner, Sariah, Jayde, Wyatt, Myles and Ravyn; as well as many loving extended family members; bonus grandchildren, Nicki, Keith and Amber; also many loving friends.
There will be no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to join her family at the Avoca Baptist Church, 1 Church St., Avoca where a funeral service will take place at 4 p.m. SATURDAY (JAN. 4, 2025) with Pastor Brandon McAfee officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in St. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Elmira.
The Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., AVOCA is honored to assist Betty’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of Betty are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & Desanto Funeral Home.
My life partner Joe Zeller introduced me to Phil and Betty in the early 80’s after he retired from nearly 3 decades in public service and eagerly took on a new adventure as a salesman for Hahn Motors of Hamburg, PA where Phil was the chief engineer for their fire truck assembly. Betty and I connected immediately and I was always in awe of her knowledge and creativity in the antique and arts world and together we enjoyed many trade shows, craft events and endless shops in search of special treasures.
Betty was always there for me and I was very proud when she introduced me as a daughter as my mother had passed a decade before in her mid-fifties. Joe and I shared those very unfortunate years when Betty had very limited vision and were thrilled when medical wonders restored her vision to the point she was able to again drive a vehicle. We also shared Phil’s long struggle with Parkinson’s which may have cut his agility but never his mental keenness especially at card games.
When Phil and Betty returned to their roots in New York after several decades in the Pennsylvania German areas of Lehigh and Berks Counties, we continued to share time together. Later with Phil gone and Betty in retirement; her creative juices continued in antique restoration, creating jewelry and lovely Victorian style ornaments for all holiday periods. I know I was her best customer and continue to be thrilled with the heirlooms she created as I decorate each holiday.
I last visited with Betty on December 1st along with Nici and Rhiannon. Betty was Betty…happy, chatting and reminiscing and I am thankful to be able to remember my dear, dear friend as she lived each day. Even that day as her health diminished, she inspired me and encouraged me to reach for the stars…as she did throughout her life. Like with so many who were fortunate to have known Betty Jane Rossi, her love and beautiful charisma will remain in my heart forever.
Ann Wertman, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania