OSWEGO, NY – Elizabeth “Betty”Tyler Chetney, was born on July 28, 1935 to Mary (Bauer) and John “Jack” Tyler at the family residence, 9 Lawrence St. at 9:35 p.m.
She was the third of five children.
In 1938, the Tylers moved to NYC where Jack worked in the Brooklyn shipyards.
The family spent approximately 10 years in the NYC area, living in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Occasionally, in later years, when Betty was annoyed you could hear the NYC accent in her.
When the Tylers moved back to Oswego, Betty attended Fitzhugh Park School and later attended Oswego High School, graduating in 1954.
On June 1, 1958, Betty married William E. “Bill” Chetney at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church.
Betty had many jobs as a young adult, including working at local muck farms topping onions, waiting table at Tendall’s Lakeside Restaurant, Savas, working the counter at Rudy’s, and Cahill’s Fish market.
Betty also worked at Sealright in Fulton.
Betty started at the Oswego City Savings Bank as a teller and was promoted to branch manager, managing the satellite
office in the Oswego Plaza.
Betty served as secretary for a local labor union for a few years.
She was also the manager of the Alcan Aluminum Corporation Federal Credit Union.
As a lifelong Democrat, Betty served as Oswego County Legislator for seven years.
Betty also ran, unsuccessfully, for Oswego County Treasurer, giving the Republican candidate a run for his money.
Betty was active in Zonta, the first female member of the Kiwanis Club, the Philomalions, but her passion was The Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The LAAOH was instrumental in fundraising for the Hibernians, holding many fundraising dinners from the annual St. Patricks Day corned beef dinner to Friday night fish fries.
Betty had many hobbies.
As a very talented and passionate dancer, she taught ballet and tap dancing.
She was an expert knitter, creating beautiful garments and afghans for all of her family and many friends.
She also loved to sew, making beautiful Hawaiian shirts for her husband Bill.
She was also a prolific word jumble solver and NY Times crossword solver, spending many many Sundays competing with her husband or her sister, Mary, to finish the Times crossword first and correctly.
She was an expert at Trivial Pursuit Silver Screen Edition, which leads to another love of hers, classic movies.
Betty, being the perpetual kid that she was, loved Halloween as many survivors of her pranks can attest.
For years she decked out her front porch in creepy fashion, dressed in a variety of ghoulish costumes, and handed out candy to neighborhood kids.
Betty is survived by three children, Christopher (Kim) Chetney of Oswego, Jeanne (Gary) Bulriss of Morley, NY, and Susan (T.C.) Sivers, of Oswego; and a sister, Patricia (John) Booth of Radcliff Kentucky.
Betty is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jill Chetney, Nicole Sivers, Katie Chetney, Elijah Bulriss, Kelly Chetney, Miranda Bulriss and Jacob Sivers; two greatgranddaughters, Amaya and Jiyana; and several nieces and nephews.
Betty is also survived by close personal friends, Mary Miller, Kay Turner and Barbara Watkins.
Betty was predeceased by her parents, Mary and Jack Tyler; husband, Bill Chetney; siblings Mary Curran, Dickie Tyler, and infant, John Tyler Jr.
A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday at noon from St.Peter’s Church.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon at the church prior to the service.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St.Jude Place, Memphis Tenn. 38105
Arrangements are in care of the Dowdle Funeral Home.
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