Betty J. Means Reed

Our sweet angel, Betty, 65, passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2013 after a two year struggle with pancreatic cancer. She faced her illness in the same way that she lived her life, with a strong and quiet beauty that left all of us in awe. Betty was a kind, loving and generous person. She gave these things freely and frequently, not only to her family and friends but to any stray animal that wandered up her country road and onto the front porch. If she couldn’t keep them she always found a loving home for them. She was a wonderful homemaker and had many interests over the years. Cooking, baking (we will miss her Christmas cookies and the cakes she made for all the get togethers), sewing, decorating and all things of nature. Although autumn was her favorite season, she also loved the springtime when she waited for the flowers to reappear, planted her vegetable garden, watched for the variety of birds that came to her feeders. She loved all the wild animals except for the occasional bear that raided her feeders and the chipmunks and moles that ate her flower bulbs. She was predeceased by her mother, Lisa Prokesch Means and her father, Robert “Red” Means and stepmother, Helen Means. Betty is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Clifford “Buddy” Reed and their son Harold “Chipper” Reed, Binghamton, sister and brother-in-law; Marcia and Tim Murphy and their children Brian and Pamela, Castle Creek, brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Sabine Means, Bethany, Conn., aunt and uncle, Sandi and David Blaschke, Terryville, Conn., brothers-in-law and sisters- in-law of the Reed family; Sally and John Votta, Richmond, Va., Kathleen and John Crouch, Binghamton, Roberta Taylor, Binghamton, Roger and Margie Reed, Harpursville. She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends, especially Rie. We all would like to thank Mary Mancini, Betty’s patient advocate, Dr. Readling and the oncology staff at Our Lady of Lourdes their loving care. You helped to give us almost two more years with Betty. We also thank all the staff in the Palliative Care Unit and Linda K., you helped to ease Betty through her last few days and final moments and so made it easier for all of us. Betty loved angels and you all truly were her angels on earth. A visitation with her family will be held from 10:00am until 12:00 pm, Saturday, December 21, 2013at the DeMunn Funeral Home, 36 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton. Because of Betty’s love for animals, she would wish for any donations to be made to True Friends, PO Box 551, Montrose, PA 18801. Dearest Betty, We knew you couldn’t stay; still it broke our hearts to let you go. Thank you for all the sweet memories that will keep you in our hearts until we see you again.