Caregiver, friend, gardener and lover of animals, Betsy will be missed by family and friends alike. She passed away on May 20, 2023.

This past March, Betsy’s family and a few friends were thrilled to celebrate her 70th birthday with her in Burlington.

Betsy was a great friend, sister, aunt and loving caretaker to many of those in need in the Burlington area. She loved camping, as well as being a “parent” to her dachshunds (plus other dogs) and cats. She was the important Aunt Betsy to five nieces and nephews, who loved her dearly: Bryan Preston, Melissa Preston, Devon Preston, Julia Preston and Jocelyn Blier. She brought together her siblings, Sandy, Suzanne and Wright, in the care of their parents, Bill and Janet Preston, at the end of their lives. Her brothers and sister are indebted to her for this and so much more.  

Betsy wore her hair short throughout most of her life, and for everyone who knew her she was larger than life. For any problem one had, she was there to help or counsel. “Sit right here,” she would say. She loved reading and made a point to pass her books and preferences on to others. She loved the beauty of small things and took great pleasure in driving a stylish car — from a VW to a Jeep to a Cube — both long distances and shorter ones. She often chose to adopt older animals, loving them in many ways until it was their time to pass on.  

Betsy loved the sun. When the weather was “right,” she would set up a chair near the beautiful garden she created behind her Colchester home, adorned with a blend of annuals, perennials, and an array of the beautifully crafted iron and ceramic figures she loved to collect. She also loved making things — photo albums, embroidery and ceramics, among other crafts. It was Betsy who gardened the gravesite of her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents at Burlington’s Lakeview Cemetery, adding beautiful perennials to a place where now she’ll also rest forever. 

Betsy graduated from Burlington High School and went on to earn a degree from Champlain College, then a BA in anthropology and sociology from Roger Williams College in Rhode Island. She later earned her master’s degree in education administration from the University of Vermont. She held many administrative positions over her wonderful life, from Saint Michael's College to UVM to Mary Fletcher Hospital. Her favorite by far was serving as caregiver — day, night or both — for seniors near the end of their lives at the Converse Home in Burlington, and most recently at the UVM McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester. It was at the Respite House where she spent her last days, after a short bout of advanced cancer, comforted by the loving family, friends and many coworkers with whom she had collaborated to bring the best care to others. We would especially like to thank Betsy’s close friend Stevie Spaulding for the friendship and care she provided in Betsy’s last days at the Respite House.

Betsy, second daughter of William and Janet Preston, born on March 10, 1953, leaves behind her siblings and their partners, Sandy and Nancy of Halfmoon, N.Y., Suzanne and Rudy of Cambridge, Mass., and Wright and Cindy of Richmond, Vt.; her nephew and nieces, Bryan and Beth of Chicago, Ill., Melissa and Gordon of Waterford, Va., Jocelyn and Keyman of Washington, D.C., Devon of New York City, and Julia and Chris of Shelburne, Vt.; and two great-nephews, Owen and Nate of Chicago, Ill. 

There will be a celebration of Betsy’s life on July 22, 2023, 10 a.m., at Betsy’s garden at Holy Cross Senior Housing, located at 468 Church Rd., Colchester, VT.  

In memory of Betsy, please consider contributing by check to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446, or to UVM Home Health & Hospice VNA programs.