Apr 27, 1921 – Jan 9, 2024
Betty J. Poltrack died peacefully at home in New Boston, NH on January 9. 2024 surrounded by family members. She was 102 years old. January 9th was also the anniversary of the death of my youngest sister Pat in 2021,
My sister Susan and I were extraordinary lucky to have this remarkable woman in our lives for so many years. She was the last member of the postwar generation that were our parents, aunts and uncles. They are all gone now.
Today my sister and I will meet with the funeral director and plan our next steps. We want to thank the hospice team for easing our mother’s final days and for the outpouring of love from family, friends and the community.
Love you, Dad. She will be forever missed. She passed away by her fireplace, surrounded by family, loved and safe. ❤️
Yes, she waited till she got home. No hospital or rehab facility for her final breaths.
A perfect way to pass and such a worthwhile life. Now she is with Pat too. My sincere sympathy to all her family.
I am grateful to have had her in my life. She was an incredible person. Her being home, near the fire, with her closest family, is a blessed way to close the final chapter. ❤️
Thank you Stephanie and belated Happy Birthday. Busy and sad day but having the family nearby was a blessing. Hospice team was wonderful.
To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things;
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
In Blackwater Woods
Mary Oliver
Your mom had a long fulfilling life and left peacefully with those she loved by her side.
The entire poem, written when a favorite forest was lost to fire.
John,
I was saddened and a tear came to my eye, when I saw this post this morning. I never met her, but I felt like I knew her a bit throughout your posts over the years. My thoughts and sympathies are with you and your family.
Warm regards,
David Schrader
I’m so sorry John. I hope you find some solice in the fact that Betty won at life. What an extraordinary person and member of this family. Long live the queen!
Impossible to capture what Aunt Betty meant to so many of us. Knowing she was there inspired us to embrace life like she did. Peace to you, Betty, and to your wonderful family.
Dear John, What a remarkable woman. Her real tribute is her wonderful family who she kept so involved her life as they kept her involved in theirs. You are so lucky to have had a Mom like that and she to have a son like you. The hole she leaves will be filled with beautiful memories.
Dear John, I am so sorry to hear about your mother’s death. She sounds like such a remarkable woman who loved and was loved by her son and daughters.
Sending my deepest sympathy to you and your sister.
MaryAnne
John,
I am sorry for your loss. I remember your mom from my youth as a strong and welcoming force of nature. We are all less with her passing.
/jk
My condolences, John.
Betty lived such a full and good life as she wanted. She dealt with whatever life threw at her with grace and humor and determination always. Betty has been part of my life as long as I’ve been part of the Poltrack life these past 55 years! What a wonderful person and I feel very lucky to have known and truly enjoy and love her.
Gael
The world has lost a wonderful , wise, witty, kind soul. I feel so honored to have met her and having had wonderful conversations with her, though I wish I had more of those with her. I will forever cherish her advise to all of us at the family zoom during COVID. when asked , what is your secret to making it so far in life, the answer was very clear and straight forward: your just put your head down and muddle through. This made such an impact on me. Rest in peace Aunt Betty!
Please accept my condolences. What a wonderful woman and what a wonderful and full life. I was particularly struck by your comment about the last of the post war generation in your family. Same with the Thorpe’s…..all now gone, but certainly not forgotten. They were a wonderful generation and my memories of them from both the Poltrack and Thorpe side are many.
Peace!
May she rest in peace. The last couple visits I had with her were sweet. I held her hand and said Hi Aunt Betty, it’s Sharrie. She turned her head toward me and smiled. When I was leaving I told her , love you , bless you and she smiled. Yesterday, January 9th, I thought of her frequently during the day and wondered, is this it? The day she leaves to join Tony and the rest of the gang? It was. Rest in peace Aunt Betty
So sorry to hear about your Mother. May she rest in peace.
Thanks Frank. she went peacefully after 102 years. That is all any of us can hope for.
Aunt Betty was my godmother and I couldn’t be more grateful. She stepped in when my mother passed and helped my brothers and I weather a tough stretch. She was always a guiding force and we were the beneficiaries. We shared wonderful conversation and also a lot of laughter. She will be missed. Jimmy
Betty was like a wonderful mother in law to me. She knew Jim at a level only a mother could. Through the years she never failed as a welcoming loving Aunt and Mother. I feel so blessed that I spoke with her two weeks ago on the phone with Susan. We talked about a love we share of stationary or writing paper (and I had recently sent her a note on brand new writing paper that I had picked up at the bookstore). We laughed with each other about it. I’ll miss her very much but her soul lives in my memory. Regina