We mourn the passing of Betty Morris Berescik who died peacefully on February 21 in Seymour, CT at the age of 94, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Denver, CO on October 22, 1917 to Leona [Elliot] Morris, who died shortly thereafter, and to Harold Morris, Betty grew up in Toledo, OH with beloved father Harold; devoted stepmother Mary; her dear brothers James and William, and close family friends, the Potschners. As a child of the Depression Era, Betty spent her early adult years working, both as a retail clerk and later, as a dentist's assistant. She also traveled with friends before enlisting in the United States Army in 1945. She served as a Sergeant in the Section 1 Medical Detachment stationed at Fort Jackson, SC. She met and married the now late Michael M. Berescik, a 4th Grade Army Medical Technician and later plumber by-trade in 1946. They raised their children in Michael's hometown, Bridgeport, CT before moving the family to Shelton, CT in 1968. In all ways, Betty was ahead of her time. Strong of mind and heart and fiercely loyal to her family, she started work in 1959 as a switchboard operator at Park City Hospital in Bridgeport, CT, retiring 22 years later as the Director of Hospital Admissions. After retirement, she volunteered for near a decade at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT, lending a hand in the hospital's gift shop. Betty's place in our world was deeply marked by her ability to keep family close and make friends for life. Warm, innately kind, and equipped with both love of the natural world and an unstoppable sense of adventure, she shared many trips with her family or long-time friends, enjoying a tour of Europe and at age 60, white water rafting down the Colorado River. Well after the time she was first stricken with Alzheimer's, Betty still sensed her adventurous spirit through long drives with her children and her love of nature, by way of the words of her favorite poem, Joyce Kilmer's Trees. Betty is survived by her four children Matthew M. Berescik of Milford, CT; Michael J. Berescik of Seymour, CT; Catherine A. Prairie of Manchester, CT; and Susan M. Berescik of East Hampton, CT. She is also survived by her brother, James R. Morris of Toledo, OH, four grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In memory of the dignity Betty showed throughout her life and in the face of adversity, those desiring may make donations to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.