Elizabeth V. G. Trappasse

Elizabeth V. G. Trappasse passed away peacefully with family on May 3rd, 2021 at Regional Hospice in Danbury, CT.  Elizabeth, known to most as “Betty”, was born on February 14, 1927 in New York City, NY to the late Lester and Elizabeth Gottschalk.  She was the beloved wife of the late Rudy Trappasse and mother of the late Stephen Trappasse.

A direct descendant of 19th century American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Betty loved music and was especially fond of Italian opera.   She attended many performances at the NY Met over the years featuring Luciano Pavarotti, and treasured her collection of opera and classical CDs.  Betty was a voracious reader and filled her home with many shelves of books, all of which she had read and was eager to discuss.  She was especially fond of biographies of religious scholars, saints, popes and Catholic personalities, and found the stories of their lives fascinating in their quest for spiritual meaning.  She enjoyed poring over the stacks at notable NY bookstores such as the Strand, and gifted countless well-selected books to relatives, never forgetting a birthday or occasion to send personal notes expressing her love.

Betty's humor, enthusiasm and appreciation of family made her much-beloved. Ever-elegant and well-coiffed (her husband was a hairdresser), her intelligence and "can-do" attitude as well as her warm personality made her popular in the Manhattan firm where she managed a team providing technical services.  A generous cook, she often hosted Thanksgiving spreads with a delicious abundance of home-cooked treats.  Betty is predeceased by her two sisters, Nancy J. Cassetta and Rae Connaughton.  She will be well-remembered always for her ready smile, her fondness for lighthouses and the love she emanated by her brother-in-law James Connaughton, nephews Jim Connaughton, Paul Cassetta, Joseph Connaughton, Peter Cassetta, Michael Connaughton, Andrew Cassetta, and Matthew Cassetta, and nieces Marie Connaughton, Nancy Tuccillo, Ann
Bethune, Gina Cassetta, Evelyn Epling, and Linda Distefano.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday May 12, 2021 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church of Danbury (8 Robinson Ave., Danbury CT, 06810) with burial to follow at Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery (17200 Booth Memorial Ave., Flushing NY 11365). The services will be live streamed, to view the live stream please follow the link in the Service Details section below the obituary.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to NPR News & Classical Music online at www.npr.org 

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