Catherine E. ‘Betty’ (Jelley) Risteen, 94 of Amesbury, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Port Healthcare in Newburyport, MA. She was the widow of the late Alfred W. Risteen with whom she shared 56 years before he passed away.
She was born in Boston, MA on November 12, 1926 and was a daughter of the late Frank S. Jelley and the late Catherine B. (Lane) Jelley. She was raised in Everett, where she attended the area schools, graduating from Everett High School with the class of 1944.
From 1967-1987, Betty lived in Tewksbury, where she raised her family and was a communicant of St. Williams Church.
Although raising her family was her pride and joy, she was employed as a secretary for 7 years at Daggett Chocolate Company; as security technology for 12 years at Marshalls; as a secretary at Tewksbury Funeral Home on the weekends, and also as a computer room clerk for over 10 years at Tewksbury High School. Betty valued the friendships she made throughout the years, especially the life long friends she made working at Tewksbury High School. After living in Tewksbury for many years, she moved to Nashua with her son, Paul, before relocating to Amesbury, MA.
She is survived by her nine children, A. William Risteen and his wife, Nancy of York, ME and FL, Kathryn Irwin and her husband, John of Lunenburg, MA, Paul F.X. Risteen of Nashua, NH, Ellen Gould and her husband, James of Newburyport, MA, John D. Risteen and his wife, Mary of Nashua, NH, Mary Burke and her husband, William of Billerica, MA, Stephen M. Risteen and his wife, Claire of Nashua, NH, Brian E. Risteen and his wife, Deborah of Nashua, NH, and Scott A. Risteen of Amesbury, MA.
Betty is survived by her 27 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren; her two sisters, Bernice Donnelly of PA, and Barbara Galvin of CT; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was predeceased by her grandson, the late Christopher Michael Risteen.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to: Cotting School, 453 Concord Ave., Lexington, MA 02421 or to: Shriners Burn Institute, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.
DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, HER FUNERAL TOOK PLACE PRIVATELY WITH HER BURIAL AT ST. MARY CEMETERY IN TEWKSBURY. ARRANGEMENTS BY TEWKSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 1 DEWEY STREET, TEWKSBURY, MA 978-851-2061.