Betty Mae (Copps) Westcott

OSWEGO – Betty Mae (Copps) Westcott, age 102, passed away peacefully on May 21,2026 at St Luke Residential Health Care Facility Inc., Oswego.  Born in Utica, NY to Cyrus George Copps and Esther Rena (Shortsleeve) Copps, she is preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Kenneth James Westcott, her daughter, Carol Ann (Westcott) Garcia, two brothers, Kenneth Copps and Edward Copps, a sister, Clara (Copps Westcott) Bickford, and a niece Claire (Westcott) Osetek.

Surviving her are her sister, Mrs. Esther (Copps) Rosenfeld of Baldwinsville, her son-in-law Ervin Garcia of Glendale, Arizona, a cousin, Mrs. Joan (Westcott) Schlegel of Auburn, 14 nieces and nephews and several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

 Betty and Ken were both long-time Oswego residents and communicants of St. John’s Catholic Church.  Betty was blessed to have been baptized and received her First Communion at the historic St. Louis Church on the east side of Oswego.

 Betty remembered a time when French was spoken in her family by her grandfather, William Shortsleeve, who was a descendent of Lewis Courtemanche (French for Shortsleeve) who’s ancestors left LaRochelle, France for Quebec, Canada and then Oswego.  She would joke about how the Shortsleeve’s and the Shortslef’s in the Oswego are all really related, the Shortslef name having originated from a family disagreement.

 Betty often shared how she played a very small part of the “Safe Haven” story of the WWII Fort Ontario refugees.  She and co-workers from Columbia Mills went together to purchase a “big” doll which she took to the fence and beckoned a shy young child to take it. She returned several times more with candy for the children.

The family wishes to extend special thanks for the extraordinary kindness and loving care extended to our Aunt Betty by Terri and Bob Hageny.   Their friendship and assistance meant the world to her.  She loved the Vona’s spaghetti and meatballs treat they often took to her.

Funeral services will be Friday May 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Christ the Good Shepherd Church, Oswego. Calling will be Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 at the Sugar & Scanlon Funeral Home, 147 W. 4^th. St Oswego. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Oswego.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Betty’s name to Christ the Good Shepherd.