Elizabeth "Bette" Ursula Neal

Elizabeth Ursula Neal (81), "Bette" as she was known to her friends and "Nonni" to her family, completed a beautiful life and went to be with the Lord on May 17, 2023. Surrounded by family and friends, her final days were full of love and affection for the wonderful woman who had touched so many lives.

A wake for Elizabeth will be held Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Butterworth Funeral Home, 520 W Raye St. Seattle, WA. A funeral mass will occur Friday, May 26, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at St. James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, Seattle, WA 98104. A graveside service will occur Friday, May 26, 2023 from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM at Holyrood Cemetery, 205 NE 205th St., Shoreline, WA 98155.

A reception for all whom were touched by Bette will occur at her home in Broadmoor at 5:00pm, 1988 Shenandoah Dr. E in Seattle.

Born in Astoria, NY, on May 4, 1942, the first child of Charles and Kathleen Calleia (McNamara) both of whom immigrated from Malta and Ireland respectively. She lived in the family's apartment building on the corner of 33rd Avenue till the age of 13. During that time, she attended elementary school at Immaculate Conception on Ditmars. She would walk to and from school daily and began each day in the attached church lighting candles at St. Joseph's alter and praying for siblings. Her free time was spent on her front stoop where she honed her card skills with her best friend from the block, Helene Marinello, and daydreamed about the "Calleia Gang", her imaginary brothers.

Her family then moved to Oyster Bay for a quieter life with her extended Irish family. But being with her Irish family was anything but quiet, as there were aunts, uncles and cousins aplenty. Homes were full of music and laughter and there was never a special occasion that wasn’t celebrated. She was a cheerleader at St. Dominic High School and held several jobs at the competing soda fountains in town. With a jelly donut and an egg cream at each end of the counter she waited on customers, did her homework, and pretended to be French. It was here that her dreams of the Calleia Gang were realized when her parents fostered 11 young boys over the years at their home on Tooker Avenue. It was then that she realized the power of visualization and its impact on the future. It became a philosophy she lived her life by. She is survived by brothers FX Williams (Karen), Steven Williams (Jean), Johnny Williams (Mary), Eddie Harttin and sister-in-law Ginny Williams, and was preceded by the late Billy Martini (Patty).

She then attended college at Mount Saint Agnes where she promptly became the unofficial social director of her dormitory arranging dates for all the young ladies to the fraternity parties and dances at the surrounding schools. This activity raised the eyebrows of the chaperoning nuns, who often questioned why she was so popular, to which she responded, "it must be my sparkling personality." She soon came across a handsome and charming dental student and became smitten. She and Jack married in the summer of 1965 and their many adventures began. After obtaining her Master’s degree in Education from Fairleigh Dickenson University, the two moved to Europe with the Army where Jack was stationed as a dentist. Craig (Michelle) was born first and Lisa (Fiore) shortly thereafter while in Frankfurt, Germany, at the 97th General hospital. Together, they shared countless adventures, experienced different cultures and created lasting friendships. Eventually, they settled in Seattle to build their family, following the recommendation of a good friend from Jack's oral surgery residency.

Our mother's nurturing spirit and caring heart lead her to adopt two children from Korea into our family. SoonJa Katey Soriano joined us in 1983 at 8 months old and later Joseph Patrick (Sharon) at 6 years old in 1989. Her boundless love and unwavering support created a home filled with compassion, love, and endless laughter.

Her strong work ethic led her into Jack's practice as the office manager where she honed her natural interpersonal skills, deftly cutting through discord and creating harmony with ease. She later embraced her entrepreneurial spirit and started her own line of fashionable dental uniforms, Professional Images, observing an unmet need in the field. She ran this business with her daughter, Lisa for over 20 years. It was the perfect opportunity to advance her philosophy of “looking good on the outside makes you feel confident on the inside”, believing that this would help bring out the best in people.

Known for her impeccable sense of style, our mother effortlessly blended elegance and creativity, making her a true icon in our eyes and to those who met her. Whether it was a special occasion or an ordinary day, she possessed a unique ability to brighten any room with her radiant smile, impeccable taste, relatability and fabulous lip-stick.

But more than anything, she adored her grandchildren the most and was always intentional to spend special time with each of them. Collin (19) and Calleia (17) children of Craig and Michelle Neal, Fiona (17) and Fiore (15) children of Lisa and Fiore Pignataro, Nalani (10), Kino (8), and Mina (3) children of Katey Soriano and Sia (2) child of Joseph and Sharon Neal.

Beyond her role as a mother, our beloved matriarch was a source of strength, wisdom, and inspiration to all who knew her. Her unconditional love, gentle guidance, and unwavering support helped shape us into the individuals we are today. We will forever cherish the lessons she taught us and the memories we shared together.

In the wake of her passing, our hearts ache with a profound sense of loss. Yet, we take solace in the knowledge that her spirit will live on in our hearts and in the lives of all those she touched. We will carry forward her legacy of love, compassion, and resilience.

As we bid farewell to our remarkable mother, let us remember her for the amazing life she lived and the profound impact she made. In our hearts, she will forever remain the radiant light that guided us through the darkest of times.

Mom received her initial diagnosis of breast cancer in the early 1990's. But she visualized a life and a future and was determined to live it out. Following her initial surgery, she quickly went into remission for 23 years. Then shortly after our father's passing, she began experiencing pain and was diagnosed with a recurrence that was incurable. She successfully fought this recurrence with chemotherapy for 8 years before the treatment became worse than the disease. She discontinued therapy for quality of life and was able to enjoy the final year and a half of her life on her own terms, a true miracle for all of us.

May her soul find eternal peace, and may we honor her memory by continuing to live lives filled with love, kindness, and grace.

In lieu of flowers please donate to treehouseforkids.org.

Memories of Bette and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the creation of lasting memories, including A Life Remembered Book, for the Neal family.