Betty Burnett Ferrelli

Betty Burnett Ferrelli passed away on October 16, 2023. She was born March 9, 1937, in Montevallo, AL. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Vincent Ferrelli, her sister Barbara Brown of Fort Collins, CO and her parents James Arthur Burnett and Carrie Foshee Burnett of Clanton, AL. She is survived by her three children Karen Elizabeth Gardi (Pietro) of Naples, Italy; James Kenneth Ferrelli (Lisa) of Nashville; and Mark Andrew Ferrelli (Tara) of Smithville, TN. She is also survived by her sister Amanda Griffin of Burns, TN and her grandchildren Andrea Gardi, Alessio Gardi, Michelle Gardi, Will Ferrelli (Kathleen), Carrie Ferrelli, Jake Ferrelli and Joey Ferrelli (Abby) as well as her great grandchild James David Ferrelli.

Betty graduated from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and received a BS degree in 1959. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and was president from 1957-1959. She was a member of Panhellenic, an association of sorority women; a representative for the School of Home Economics in the legislature of the Student Government Association; a member of the Dean’s advisory board for the School of Home Economics; and a member and officer of Mortar Board, an honorary scholastic society for women.

In 1959, she married Joseph Ferrelli of Burlington, NJ and a fellow Alabama graduate. A few years later they moved to Nashville, and she began teaching kindergarten at St. George’s Episcopal pre-school in Belle Meade. She was a kindergarten teacher for more than 35 years. Betty and Joe were members of St. David’s Episcopal in Nashville for many years until the times of their passing. She was active in the Italian Street Fair for many years, a former board member and board secretary for Belmont Mansion Association as well as a former member of the Vanderbilt University Club where Joe served as treasurer of the Board. Betty was also active in Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames of America, United Daughters of the Confederacy and Daughters of the American Colonists.

Her hobbies included playing the piano, flower gardening, cooking, and traveling.

The service took place on Friday Nov 17 at St. David's Episcopal Church, 6501 Pennywell Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37205. There was a visitation from 10am-11:30am and the funeral service began at 11:30am. Donations in memory of Betty may be made to St. David's Church for the pastor's discretionary fund.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Ferrelli family.