Betty Villari, a long-time Provincetown resident, died on Aug. 28, 2017, surrounded by loved ones at Cape Cod Hospital, from complications associated with breast, bladder and lung cancers. She was 74 years old.
Betty was born in Dorchester on Dec. 2, 1942, to the late Charles and June (Ristaino) Villari with a severe form of hip dysplasia. For eight years her mother brought her from doctor to doctor until she found one who would treat her. It paid off. “At that time, I was in the hospital for a year. They basically strapped my legs to two two-by-fours and separated them but by bit,” Betty told the Banner back in June. “The whole experience made me determined not to be held back ever again. I learned to walk by pushing a chair across the floor.”
Betty moved to Provincetown in 1975, where she tended bar and worked in restaurants. In 1985, she became one of the early owners of the Provincetown Gym, where she was a personal trainer for 20 years, mostly for clients who had disabilities. She was on the board of trustees at the Methodist Church, served on the Provincetown Town Scholarship Fund and was on the board of directors of the Soup Kitchen in Provincetown.
Betty was one of the founding members of Helping Our Women, where she served on its board since its inception. At HOW’s annual meeting on June 20, 2017, Betty was honored for her lifetime of service.
She is survived by her sisters, Patricia Higgins of Clinton Township, Mich., and Judy Hudson and husband, Carl Hudson, of Jamaica Plain; nieces Amy Walls and husband, George Hatch, of Needham, Kerrie Wittman and husband, Jim, of Novi, Mich., Jennifer Burkat and husband, Scott, of Westwood; nephews Kip Higgins and wife, Sally, of Kalamazoo, Mich., Kevin Higgins and wife, Lisa, of Warren, Mich., Matthew Hudson and wife, Carol, of Wellesley, Scott Hudson and wife, Marketa, of Prague, Czech Republic; and many grandnieces and grandnephews. She is also survived by her best friend and long-time companion, Gary Pasnick, of Provincetown; Rev. Jim Cox and her friends at the United Methodist Church in Provincetown; and countless friends.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, at Gately Funeral Home, 94 Harry Kemp Way. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Provincetown United Methodist Church, 20 Shank Painter Road.
If desired, donations be made to HOW, 34 Conwell St., Provincetown, MA 02657.