Betty L. Backer

Betty Lou Backer, 88, of 161 S. 25th St, Eden Heights, formerly of Ithaca and Belfast, passed away Monday, March 25, 2013 at Olean General Hospital, following a short lengthy illness. Mrs. Backer was born Jan. 18, 1925 in South Bend, IN and was the daughter of Albert Frederic and Rosemary Morris. On Sep. 22, 1946, in Dover, NJ she married her husband of over 66 years, Richard E. Backer, who survives. Betty graduated from Dover High School class of 1943. She also graduated from St. Barnabas School of Nursing in Newark, NJ as a Registered Nurse. She was a RN first at Glens Falls Hospital and then at Tompkins County Hospital in Ithaca for about 20 years, retiring in the early 1980's. In the mid 1980's, Betty and her husband, Dick, moved to Belfast, where she was a member of the Belfast United Methodist Church and the Belfast United Methodist Women. Betty enjoyed reading & cooking but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her great grandchildren who where the center of her world. Along with her loving husband, Betty is survived by two sons, Joseph W. (Roxanna) Backer of Castile, and Jeffrey A. (Allison) Backer of Alfred, GA; two daughters, Karen L. (Ed Dellert) Backer of Ithaca, and Susan M. (Jeff) VanDeCar of Hinsdale; one daughter-in-law, Becky Backer of Belfast; nine grandchildren, Gretchen & Joseph (Mae) Backer, Shelley, Graig & Patrick Backer, Joseph (Denise) Backer, Jr., Jessica & Jacob Backer, & Jeffrey VanDeCar II; and three great grandchildren, Ezibelle, Ellicia, & Joseph III. Mrs. Backer was predeceased by one son, Richard E. Backer III in 2004; one infant grandson, Richard E. Backer IV; and one granddaughter, Jaclyn M. VanDeCar in 1997. Friends will be received Thursday, March 28, 2013 at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, 646 E. State St., Olean from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, at which time Funeral Services will be held. The Rev. Gerard F. leFeber will officiate. Burial will be at the Hinsdale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Belfast Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps, 11 Merton Avenue, Belfast, NY 14711. Online condolences may be made by clicking on the button above.