Shrewsbury – Betty L. (Settegren) Onorato, of Shrewsbury, died Monday, July 21, 2014 in UMass Medical Center in Worcester after being stricken ill at home. She was 86.
Betty was born on March 17, 1928 in Holden, a daughter of the late Adolph G. and Beatrice (LeDuc) Settegren. She married Nicholas L. Onorato July 19, 1947 in Notre Dame Church in Worcester.
Shortly after high school, Betty worked for the former New England Bell and, while her husband was studying at Boston University, she worked in the candy department at Jordan Marsh in Boston. Resident of Shrewsbury since 1954, Betty stayed at home to raise her seven children.
Betty loved Glenn Miller and the Big Band sound, listening intently even at age 86. Her interests included art and fashion and design. She designed windows for fitness studios advertising their services.
She kept active physically doing aerobics into her 70s. She was a longtime member of the former Gloria Stevens and Royal Fitness. Her love for swimming enabled her to teach each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren how to swim.
She and Nick loved to travel throughout the Caribbean and took any opportunity to visit Aruba as often as they could. Her love of God and deep faith was evident in her devotion to her family and in turn their devotion to her as illness progressed over the last few years.
The Onorato family wishes to thank the staff of The Summit Eldercare who enabled Betty to stay at home during her final years. They are grateful to the devoted, loving, and caring nurse's aides of HomeStaff and Ace Medical Services.
In heaven Betty joins her sons, Charles G. “Chuck” Onorato, who died June 5, 2001, and Jeffrey E. Onorato, who died February 22, 2014; her grandson, Justin B. Onorato, who died October 9, 2010; and her siblings, Robert and George Settegren.
In addition to her husband of 67 years, Dr. Nicholas L. Onorato, she leaves her children, Gary C. Onorato and his wife Susan and Glenn S. Onorato, all of Shrewsbury, Nicholas L. Onorato and his wife Ellen of Grafton, Lisa B. Kinney and her husband Christopher of Leominster, and Deborah L. Whelan and her husband John of Lowell; her grandchildren, Gregory, Sam, Sarah, Christian and Daniel Onorato, Ashleigh E. Leith, Gabrielle and Deborah Deloriea, Patrick, Stephen and Tyler Kinney, Colleen O’Connell, Matthew Whelan, Fasha Onorato, Charles Onorato Jr., and Nicholas Onorato; her great-grandchildren, Silas Kinney, Ezra Sardelias, Alannah and Kelsi O’Connell, Quinn and Robert O’Connell, and Elijah and Liberty Whelan; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Betty's life by gathering for calling hours Thursday, July 24, from 5 – 7 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center. A Life Celebration Service will be held at 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.
