(05/26/15) Gertrude Elizabeth (Treat) Surprenant, 83, of Westerly, passed away early May 23, 2015 in Peace Dale, Rhode Island. She was born in New London, CT on May 22, 1932, to the parents of the late Walter O. Treat and Gertrude (Hamill). “Betty”, as she was affectionately known by all, was the adored wife of the late Richard Lewis Surprenant, who predeceased her February 14, 2013. They were married during a hurricane on October 15, 1954 in Norwich, CT.
She is survived by her cherished six children and their spouses: Richard (Nancy) Surprenant of Plainfield, CT, Renee (Joseph) Breen of Woodstock, CT, Michelle (Keith) Goettlich of Berkley, MA, Paula Fontana of West Hartford, CT, John (Melissa) Surprenant of Dudley, MA, and Jeffrey (Jill) Surprenant of Hampstead, NC. They will all miss her tremendously.
She is also survived by her dear grandchildren: Dylan (Kristen) Goettlich of Kittery, ME, Jared (Ashley) Surprenant of Manchester, CT, Kylie (Christopher Thibeault) Goettlich of North Dighton, MA, Kyle Surprenant of Coventry, CT, Colin and Haley Breen of Woodstock, CT, Lena and Lorenzo Fontana of West Hartford, CT, Peyton Surprenant of Dudley, MA, Samantha, Emily and Madeline Surprenant of Hampstead, NC and one great granddaughter, Brooke Surprenant, of Manchester, CT.
Betty is also lovingly survived by her two sisters, Connie (Bruce) Beran of Venice, FL, and Janis Fallon of Indiana, one brother, Walter “Buzz” (Patricia) Treat, of Baltic, CT , her brother-in-law, Robert (Marilyn) Surprenant of Hudson Falls, NY and numerous nieces and nephews.
Betty graduated from Norwich Free Academy as a member of the class of 1950 and attended Eastern CT State University (formerly Willimantic State Teachers College) as a student in the class of 1955. She completed her Bachelor Degree in 1971 after raising her family and then obtained her Master’s in Education in 1980. Betty taught for 40 years in schools in Connecticut, primarily in Bozrah and Norwich and for the last twenty-five years of her career, in Canterbury CT. She leaves behind many fortunate students whose lives she impacted as well as her dear teacher friends she continued to see even after retirement, such as Carol, Joanne, Judy, Sharon, Peggy, Gigi and countless others. She truly enjoyed her time with them!
Betty and Dick lovingly raised their six children in Norwich and then Central Village, CT. Summers were spent in Pleasure Beach, Waterford, CT a place near and dear to their hearts. After retirement, they enjoyed sailing their boat, the GETS II, along Narragansett Sound where they savored their empty nest lives, along with their sweet dog, Molly. Both Dick and his beautiful bride are now sailing in the heavens with their pup at their side!
Funeral services are under the direction of Rushlow-Iacoi Funeral Home & Crematory of Westerly. There will be a Catholic Service held at the Church of Saint Clare, 62 Crandall Avenue, Misquamicut, RI 02891 on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 10:00 am with a gathering of friends and family hosted by her children at a destination to be announced immediately after the Mass. Interment of cremains will be private the following day at Rhode Island Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery.
For online condolences, please visit www.rushlowiacoifuneralhome.com
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