Betty J. Feorene, 79, of Niles, passed away peacefully at 12:50AM Tuesday June 19, 2012 at Autumn Hills Care Center in Niles.

She was born April 6, 1933 in Potts Camp, Missisippi the daughter of Edward and Lottie Williams

Betty was a 1951 graduate of Potts Camp High School in Mississippi, employed as a switch board operator for 25 years for The AT&T Phone Company and at Trumbull Memorial Hospital retiring in 1998.

She was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Niles, The Steel Valley Squares, and The Mahoning Valley Squares. Betty enjoyed spending her time gardening, camping, crafting, painting, ceramics, square dancing, cooking, and spending time with her family. She also enjoyed listening to the music of the bands her husband performed with, such as Top Notes and Packard Band.

She will be deeply missed by her husband Dominic Feorene whom she married February 16, 1957, a son Vincent Feorene of Niles, a daughter Donna Zielinski of Catawba Island, Ohio, a brother James Williams and his wife Joanna of South Haven, Mississippi, a sister Jewel Swarner of Greenville, Mississippi, three grandchildren, Kelly Gates, Michele Feorene, and Claire Zielinski, a great-granddaughter, Mya Robertson, and dozens of Nieces and Nephews. She is preceded in death by three brothers, Glenn Williams, Charlie Williams, and Tommy Williams, and four sisters, Dorothy Russell, Ruth Shipp, Nettie Williams, and an infant sister Julia Williams.

Friends may call from 5 to 8PM Thursday at The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles where The Mt. Carmel Bereavement Ministry will conduct prayers at 7:30PM.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 9:30AM Friday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Niles preceded by a 9AM prayer service at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Niles City Cemetery.

Material contributions can be made to The Trumbull County Parkinsons Support Group Foundation, 730 Howland-Wilson Road, Warren, Ohio 44484.

Family and friends can view this obituary, sign the guestbook, and send e-mail condolences at www.josephrossifuneralhome.com.

The following are the Word of Remembrance Betty daughter wrote and read at her Funeral Mass.

Parkinson's is a horrible disease and in the last two years, it has ravaged my mother's body and eventually her mind. The toll it has taken on our family (especially my father and brother) is indescribable and allowed little time to reflect or remember what my mom was really like before her illness progressed. I want to take this time to remember my mom as she was and not what she became. We always need to remember the wonderful gifts that she left us as part of who she was.

Our mother left us with the gift of generosity. She was always the first person at someone's side if they were sick or in need. Our mother was the first to arrive with a casserole, a dessert or a hug to a neighbor, friend or relative in need. She was a generous soul, always being the first person to show her concern. She once told me, "I wish I had more, then I could help more." I will never forget those words and will carry on her generosity.

Our mother left us not only with the gift, but the power, of forgiveness. If you note, my mother's obituary said three grandchildren and one great grandchild. She left us with the lesson that relationships are defined not by legal boundaries, but by what's in your heart. That gift has allowed my brother and I to be friends with our ex-spouses and ensure that the most important part of being a family is to care for one other; forget the past, cherish the present and look to the future with hope.

My mother also gave my brother and I the gift of her family, true southerners who exemplify the words southern hospitality... just like my mom, who made everyone feel welcome in her home. The Williams clan are all representative of my mom, forgiving and accepting individuals that ignore the passage of time or the mileage between us, they are always welcoming us with open arms... picking up just where we left off the last time. My mothers friends, although few, have lasted a lifetime... like Judy Core, who has been a friend of my mother's for 47 years. My mother again has taught us that it is the quality of our relationships and not the quanity of our acquaintances that defines our lives.

Our mother gave us all, my brother, my father and me, the gift of education. Along with my father, they personally financed in whole or part six degrees. Because of her hard work and sacrifice, our mother allowed us opportunities in our lifetimes that far surpassed her own humble beginnings. We will all pass this one to our children and the cycle will hopefully continue through the generations... beginning with the gifts of my mom.

My mother also taught my brother and I the importance of saving money. This is one area that my brother and I will proudly announce that we did poorly, we failed , most likely ignored, that lesson. Given our family history and the possibility of what could face us in the future, we have chosen to seize the day and hope for the best for the future. My mother's resourceful nature, that she passed on to us, will will carry us through for a lifetime and we know that we will always be okay. We only pray that there may be a cure for Parkinson's so that no other member of our family will suffer the fate that has brought us here today.

Of course, my mother was not the saint that she is beginning to sound like... and she could be stubborn, bull-headed, not take no for an answer and just down-right difficult. But through that hard-headed southern personality, she taught us that there is always an option and a way to get what you want; if you want it, work for it and don't take no for an answer if that's what you want. This has served us well in our professions and in our life.

The final gift of my mother is my brother. At the time of his birth, I thought this little person was invading my space and taking way too much attention away from me. But as I am here today to bury my mother, I thank her for a life long friend who is as generous, compassionate and kind as she. My mother lives on in him.

Thank you for being here to send my mother off to her final destiny.