Elizabeth M. Bachefski (neeWalsh), “Betty & Betty Mae” passed on July 26, 2026 from earthly life to eternal rest with her Lord. She was 91 years young. Betty was the proud daughter of the late James and Elizabeth Walsh. Betty was born in Newark, NJ and grew up in Union, NJ. She spent much of her life in Lavallette, NJ and was a resident of The Villages, FL for the last 24 years. Betty was the faithful and loving wife of Richard, her high school sweetheart, with whom she shared a beautiful life for more than 72 years. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Ronnie.

On life’s journey, Betty loved and was loved by many valued family, friends, neighbors, classmates and colleagues. She was the proud, honored, and loving mother of Maureen Manasia (Joseph), Elizabeth Zaydon (James), Michael (Catherine), and Cathryn Rocco (Dean). She was the devoted grandmother of Anthony and Vincent Manasia, Elizabeth Dessoye (Michael), James J. Zaydon III, Michael Zaydon (Karen), Salvatore Zaydon (Danielle), Jessica and Emily Bachefski, and Michael and Dean Richard Rocco. She was the great-grandmother of Sophia Dessoye, Dakota Bachefski, and Genevieve Zaydon with one more great-granddaughter on the way. She cherished her role as matriarch of the family and never missed sending greeting cards for every occasion to all her family and friends.

As a young teenager, Betty assisted a Woolworth store manager with payroll. After high school graduation, Betty worked for a local Esso-Exxon office as a budget and finance clerk.

After marriage in 1954, Betty spent summertime in Lavalette, NJ, and became a communicant of St. Pio’s Roman Catholic church. As the family grew, and all children were in school, Betty became a bookkeeper and tax clerk with a local accounting firm for over 15 years. A charter member of Holy Spirit Church and School in Union, NJ, Betty was active with religious societies and student activities, especially with the Girl Scouts as Troop Leader, she herself reaching the highest level of Girl Scouting.

While in The Villages, Betty became a charter member of St. Mark Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Summerfield, FL, where she was active in the Rosary Makers Guild and Women’s Club. Betty was also the Treasurer of the Greenbriar Social Club. Along with her husband, Betty was a charitable sponsor of children in Blessed Trinity Catholic grade school in Nalweyo, Uganda. In earlier years they sponsored a girl from grade school through college in the Philippines.

Betty sang and danced in shows at grade and high school levels. She went on to become an accomplished swimmer and received a Red Cross Life Saving badge. She bowled, attained the R2D2(sic) level in snow skiing and played pool in The Villages couples billiard league. She was a friendly competitor in the Greenbriar neighborhood games of cards, dominoes, mahjong, marble chase, etc. as well as food cook-offs. Around 2002, Betty and Richie were charter members of the first couples golf league in Greenbriar.

Final arrangements handled by Baldwin Brothers of Lady Lake, FL. A Funeral Mass at St. Mark the Evangelist Church, Summerfield, FL will be held at 10:00AM on Monday August 17, 2026. Internment will be at the General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ.

Your love and support mean the world to us. If you wish to honor Betty's memory with a gift, please consider making a donation in her name to a charity close to your heart.