Betty Jean Worden

Elizabeth “Betty” Jean (Naccarato) Worden died November 15, 2018 after an extended stay at the Columbine Manor Nursing Home. Betty was born in Salida on December 13, 1926 to Salvador “Sam” R. Naccarato and Lydia C. Post.


Betty grew up on the family range at the foot of Mt. Shavano with her brother Lloyd and her sister Adeline. Her playmates were cousins from the Post and Williams families. She rode her horse to the Pinion Grove School and graduated from Salida High School.


She was a devoted Catholic who sang with the church choir and the Salida Sweet Adelines. She was a talented accordionist, pianist, and organist who performed at many community functions, weddings, and civic organizations. Betty worked in the Chaffee County Clerks Office during the 1950s. She was a delegate representing Colorado at the International Conference Convention for the Daughters of Isabella, a Catholic women’s service organization.


She married Alvin Worden on August 11, 1957 and was a dedicated housewife. They were married 59 years until Alvin’s passing in 2016.

Betty enjoyed going into the mountains to picnic with her family. She would take long walks with her nieces and could name the many different wildflowers they found growing along the hillsides. She loved to dance and danced away hours at weddings and live music events. She enjoyed family dinners, gardening, and her cats. Her interests included early Naccarato-Post history in Southwest Chaffee County. Betty loved her extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families and she was revered and loved by all of them.


She was preceded in death by her parents Sam and Lydia; husband Alvin; sister Adeline (Frank) Stancati; brother Lloyd (Florence) Naccarato; brother-in-law Jack Cunningham; great-niece Kim Boyd-Marchase; niece Evangeline Stancato; and great-grandnephew Jakob Taverna.

Betty is survived by sister-in-law Eleanor Cunningham of Farmington, NM; nieces Joann (Bud) Stancato-Boyd of Salt Lake City, UT, Terri Duffey of Farmington, NM, Karin (Vince) Naccarato-Marchase of Salida, CO; nephews Joe Stancato of Lake Havasu, AZ, Sam (Pat) Naccarato of Pueblo, CO, Tom (Linda) Naccarato of Grand Junction, CO, Tim (Tonia) Naccarato of Salida, CO, Gary Cunningham of Blackhawk, CO; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

A graveside service is planned for Saturday December 1st, 2018 at 11:30 AM at Fairview Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made in Betty’s name to Helping Hands. Arrangements are with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.lewisandglenn.com.

 

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