Obituary of Esther H. Decato

Esther “Betty” Decato, 98, of Summerville, SC passed away peacefully on June 27, 2016. A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Lebanon, New Hampshire at a later date. Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lebanon. Betty was born on April 22, 1918 in Sutton, Vermont. She graduated from West Lebanon High School in West Lebanon, New Hampshire in 1936. Betty was the daughter of Beatrice Wilkie Blake and Leo Blake. She was predeceased by her husband Eugene J. Decato, a son Eugene P. Decato, brother Leo Blake, and two sisters Ethelyn Palmer and Marion Blake. She is survived by her children Robert Decato of Surprise, Arizona, Bruce Decato of Surprise, Arizona and Pamela Fowler of Summerville, South Carolina, also five grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren plus nieces and nephews. Betty was an employee of Mascoma and Riverdale Mils, Lebanon School Lunch program and Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital retiring from the latter in 1983. She spent her late life volunteering at the Lebanon Senior Center, Sacred Heart Church, Bloodmobile and the Lebanon Information Booth in the summer. She was a past president of Emblem Club #358, a past member of the Catholic Daughters of America, past president of the Golden Age Club and a member of the VFW Auxiliary of White River Junction, Vermont and the Red Hat Society. In 2006, Betty moved to Summerville, South Carolina with her daughter Pamela, and son-in-law Tony. She enjoyed playing bingo at the Dorchester Senior Center and working in the garden as she had an avid passion for gardening and watching the plants grow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lebanon Senior Center, 10 Campbell Street, Lebanon, New Hampshire. Arrangements are by Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services.