Obituary of Betty Shutts

Betty Mullen Shutts, 96, of Elim Park Place, passed away at home on September 18, 2013 with her family by her side. Mrs. Shutts was born in Waterbury on September 12, 1917 to the late William and Nora Hyland Mullen. She was the loving wife of the late Emmett N. Shutts for 60 years. After graduating from Wilby High School in Waterbury, Betty was employed as a legal secretary. In 1941 she married Emmett Shutts, and they settled in Cheshire. In 1943 Emmett was drafted into the Navy and became an instructor at the sonar school in Key West, where Betty was fortunate to join him. They returned to Cheshire in 1945. While her children were growing, Betty volunteered for many church and community organizations. She and her husband enjoyed many hours with friends playing bridge and tennis as well as meeting regularly as part of their Discussion Group. The Shutts family was one of the founding members of the Copper Valley Club. On weekends they would retreat to their vacation home in Vermont which they built nearly 50 years ago. Mr. Shutts' business connections allowed for them to travel extensively in Europe, and especially to Ireland for visits with her family. Betty was an excellent cook, kept up on current events and never tired of watching tennis on television. After her husband's passing, Betty moved to Elim Park in 2002 and rekindled friendships with many of the people she had known in Cheshire over the years. In her later years she became a Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas Becket, bringing Communion to the homebound at Elim Park. She is survived by her children; Christine Swanson of Lebanon, CT; Emmett "Topper" and his wife Beth, of Hamden; and Melanie Everard and her husband Jim, of Marlborough, NH. She will be missed by her five grandchildren; Anastasia Shutts Mixsell, Emmett Shutts, Benjamin Everard, Brie Everard and Luke Everard. Betty was delighted to be the great-grandmother of Kyle and Mack Shutts, Henry Everard, and Ainsley Mixsell. Betty is also survived by her sisters Marie Kelliher of Belmont, MA, and Nancy Collins of Skaneateles, NY. She was predeceased by her sister Patricia Kelly Shaw and brothers James Mullen and Monsignor William Mullen, son-in-law Leonard Swanson and grandson Michael Crain. She also leaves a dear cousin Sr. Rosita Hyland CCVI of San Antonio, TX and countless nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care for their exceptional dedication to her comfort over the last few months particularly her caregiver Winifred and Sr. Catherine Mary Clarke FSE. Betty's funeral will leave the Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main Street Cheshire CT 06410, on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 10AM for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM in St. Thomas Becket Church, 435 N. Brooksvale Road, Cheshire. Interment will follow in St. Bridget Cemetery, Higgins Rd., Cheshire. Friends may greet the family at the funeral home on Sunday, September 22, 2013 from 3PM to 6PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Agnes Home, Inc., 104 Mayflower St., West Hartford 06110 or Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care, 267 Finch Avenue, Meriden, CT 06451. To view these arrangements online or to leave condolences for the family visit our website at www.aldersonfuneralhomes.com