Elizabeth "Betty" (Parkinson) Mondress

Elizabeth “Betty” Mondress passed peacefully in the early morning hours of July 7, 2025.  She was 97 years old.

Betty was born in Philadelphia to George Parkinson and Winifred (Hare) Parkinson of Falmouth, Cornwall, England. She is predeceased by her parents, husband Morton, her daughter Rebecca (Arthur) Baxter, son Eric and her brother Arthur (Lillian) Parkinson. 

Betty is survived by her daughter, Diane (Andy) Frankenfield and grandchildren Jacob and Rachel, of whom she was most proud.       

Betty graduated from Philadelphia’s Frankford High School. She went to work as a secretary at the Home Insurance Company, later moving to Strawbridge and Clothier as a coordinator and buyer for ladies’ fashion shows in the mid-1940s. Eventually, she found her way to the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin as a writer and editor for the Women’s Pages, sharing her knowledge of gourmet cooking, sewing and all manner of domestic pursuits. 

Married to Morton for 48 years until his death in 2001, she raised her children in Levittown and Southampton, Pennsylvania.  Betty was a passionate anglophile, and very proud of her English ancestry. Together, she and Morton enjoyed a lifelong pursuit of knowledge through reading and a robust travel agenda.  Betty was active in many creative and community pursuits, founded her own small craft business, “Colonial Keepsakes”, and could often be found roaming the antique stores of upper Bucks County.  Her senior years were enjoyed at Ann’s Choice in Warminster and, later, the Residence at Valley Farm in Ashland, Massachusetts.

Of her many lifelong friends, she held Doris (Cardwell) Lapham, Audrey (Carter) Attorri, Florence Jung and the entire Radis family especially dear.

A memorial gathering will be held in her honor at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home at 4 Park Street, Natick, Massachusetts, at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 13th.

Donations in Betty’s name may be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

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