Betty-Ann Proxee

Betty Proxee of Berlin, Connecticut, beloved mother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday evening. She was born “Betty-Ann” to Elizabeth Katherine Pongratz and James Vincent Proxee on April 26, 1950, in Hartford, Connecticut. After graduating from Farmington High School, she lovingly raised two beautiful daughters, Karen and Holly, who remained the light of her life.

Betty enjoyed spending time with her family and pets and was a fierce advocate for all living creatures. She delighted in spending time with her granddog, Gibbs, and conversing with her sulfur-crested umbrella cockatoo, JB. She worked as a grocery cashier at Foodmart in Berlin and Big Y in Rocky Hill, and split her years between Connecticut and Florida, always seeking sunshine. She was an avid reader who loved to curl up with a good book and enjoyed caring for her plants both indoors and outside in the yard, where she loved gardening in the spring and summer months. She was fond of the beach and sitting poolside with family and friends on a sunny afternoon. Anyone that was blessed to meet Betty during her time here on Earth would have known she was instantly a humble, kind, hard-working, classy woman who was well admired by many.

Betty was predeceased by her parents and brother Bobby Proxee. She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Karen Raia-Courtois and her husband Bruno Courtois; her daughter, Holly Raia; her sisters, Jo-Ann Nyack and Mary-Ann Nitka; her brothers Jim, Peter, and Tom Proxee, and his wife Ellen Proxee; several beloved nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends.

Calling hours and a celebration of Betty’s life will be held at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin at 111 Chamberlain Hwy, Berlin, CT, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 5th. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Betty’s honor to the Connecticut Humane Society, the ASPCA, the Lupus Foundation of America, or the National Kidney Foundation.