ECD Obituary

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, Elizabeth Coughlin Donnelly - "Betsy" to her friends and loved ones - passed away peacefully at Yale New Haven Hospital at age 66, surrounded by loved ones after a difficult but mercifully short illness.

Betsy beamed light and love, and lived a brilliant life of thoughtfulness, kindness, connection and joy.  Wired to care and laugh, she cultivated decades-long deep relationships with extended family and friends.  Her passion to create wonderful memories enriched us all.  She loved to organize parties, weekend get-togethers and vacations - where she graced her guests with her quick wit, her easy manner, amazing food and spectacular cocktails.  She will be deeply missed and celebrated by a beautiful web of friends and family - her spouse, children and grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins, who were the joy of her life.

Betsy grew up in Middletown where she attended Mercy High School, graduating in 1975.  For the rest of her life, Betsy remained close to an extended group of her Mercy girls, including BFFs Donna Grisham, Cindy Pashley, Linda Widlansky, Lisa Stockman, Jo-Anne Foley, Nancy Santostefano and others.

After graduating from Holy Cross University in 1979, Betsy lived in Virginia Beach VA, Pensacola FL and Germany before returning to Connecticut where she settled down with her husband Michael Donnelly and split time between her home in Middletown CT and her beloved Cottage in Niantic CT.

Betsy was a Certified Public Accountant who had a very successful career over three decades at Aetna where she rose to Chief Ethics Officer and Head of International Compliance.  Along the way, she connected with BFF and Euchre partner Janet Mann and her husband Steve Halloran - who became Mike and Betsy's frequent travel companions and Game Night friends.

While her business career was successful and rewarding, when her first grandchild was born in 2016, she immediately entered early retirement and never looked back. Betsy was a five star grandmother for her remaining days - a Mary Poppins-like figure who was, from the beginning, a special part of Declan and Marlowe's lives.

Betsy loved to travel for business and pleasure.  In her life, she visited many countries including China, India, Australia, Singapore, Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hungary, Aruba, Bermuda, France, Italy, Iceland; and traveled all over the United States.  But she was happiest with friends and family at her cottage in Niantic CT; on the slopes at Smugglers Notch in Vermont; or touring Hawaii with her husband to celebrate an anniversary or a retirement.

Family was everything to Betsy.  In addition to husband Michael, Betsy is survived by her three children Chelsea "Kat" Donnelly of Colorado, Sterling Donnelly of Glastonbury CT, and James Donnelly of Brooklyn NY; her "daughter in love" Lauren Cianciola Donnelly, and her two grandchildren, Declan and Marlowe Donnelly of Glastonbury who were the joy of her life.  She is also survived by her sisters Kate Norman (Paul) and Mary Patton (Perry); and brothers Jack Coughlin and Bob Coughlin (Judy).

The Donnelly family would like to acknowledge and thank the many, many people who were so supportive during Betsy's tragic illness.  We would especially like to acknowledge by name Michael Coughlin, Olivia Parmenter, and Brigid Lynch.  We aren't sure how we could have gotten through our ordeal without you.  We would also like to thank the medical team at Yale New Haven Hospital for their compassion and care.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, March 28, from 10:00 am to Noon at Biega Funeral Home in Middletown, CT, followed by a funeral service commencing at noon. Contributions in memory can be directed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or a preferred charitable organization.