Elizabeth "Betty" (Kappeler) Leary

Elizabeth “Betty” Leary, 95, of Prospect passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026 at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was the widow of the late John “Jack “Leary. Born October 14, 1930 to parents George and Gertrude (Hofacker) Kappeler, she grew up in the Momauguin section of East Haven and was a graduate of East Haven High School. Growing up on the Connecticut shore and spending happy times at the beach led to Betty’s lifelong love of the ocean. As a youth, Betty was a bugler with the Branford Manor Fife and Drum Corps which is where she met and fell in love with her future husband, Jack, who was a drummer and member of Waterbury’s East End Community Club Drum Corps. They married and raised their daughters Patricia and Lisa in Prospect.

Betty was a woman of strong Catholic faith and as such gave tirelessly of her time and talents as a volunteer and employee for her beloved parish. She was the administrative assistant at Saint Anthony’s parish for over 40 years, a member of the directorial staff for the CCD program, a member of the Ladies Guild, the La Salette Mission Club and one of the founding members of the housewife’s choir. She welcomed many of the parish priests to their new congregation and to her home and enjoyed wonderful friendships with each throughout her life. Betty was a gifted hostess. Her home was always filled with family, friends, and neighbors and no matter what groups she and Jack were involved with, the party was always at their house. Her home was also more than a place for her own children - it was a warm, welcoming place for their friends as well, many of whom grew to think of her as a second mom.

As an avid sports fan, Betty had encyclopedic knowledge of her favorite Boston Red Sox and UConn Men’s and Women’s basketball teams and rarely missed a game. She loved her many trips to Fenway Park, Gampel Pavillion, Foxboro and Rentschler Field. One of her favorite trips was to South Bend to see UConn football beat Notre Dame.

Betty enjoyed her sixty-five-year tradition of family summer vacations in Rhode Island and passed that love of beach and family to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family was her most cherished treasure. As wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt or friend - she poured her love into each role. If you knew Betty, you most certainly loved her. Her light and joy live on in the hearts of all.

Left to cherish her love and memory are her daughters and son-in-laws Patricia and Alan Horton of Arnold, Maryland, and Lisa and Daniel Lowry with whom she resided in Prospect. She also leaves her cherished grandchildren: Aaron Benoit (Natalie Wall), Kathleen Wode (Brandon), Abigail Perillo (Andrew), great grandchildren: Jack and Elisabeth Wode and soon to be born Baby Benoit-Wall, several nieces and nephews and their families, as well as her wonderful neighbors Sean and Sondra Farrell who were family to her. She was predeceased by her sister, Lois Goss (Norton) and brother, George Kappeler (Marion).

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026 from 5pm to 7pm at Prospect Memorial/The Palmerie Family Funeral Home, 122 Waterbury Rd., Prospect. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 10:30 am at St. Anthony’s Church, 4 Union City Rd., Prospect followed by burial at Prospect Cemetery. All those planning to attend the funeral mass are kindly asked to meet directly at the church. Prospect Memorial/The Palmerie Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements and to care for the Leary family during this time. Please visit prospectmemorial.com for directions, information and online condolences. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Volunteer Fire Department of Prospect are appreciated.

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