Betty Dondero

Betty (Jacobs) Dondero, 88, of N. Windham, widow of Charles J. Dondero, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday Nov. 21, 2011 at St. Joseph Living Center, Windham. Betty was born in North Grosvenordale, CT on March 24, 1923, the daughter of Howard and Gladys Jacobs. She had a brother Kenneth Jacobs and a sister Arlene Jacobs who both predeceased her. After graduating from Windham High School in 1940, Betty worked as a telephone operator for SNET. In 1945, Betty and Charles were married and operated a poultry farm for 30 years, where they raised their family. They retired to Betty's childhood home and raised beef cattle. Betty loved farming, was a great apple pie baker and had a wonderful green thumb. Her flower gardens were well known in the neighborhood. Betty is survived by a son Charles H. Dondero of North Windham and his wife Diane and their son Ronald; a daughter Linda Bessette of North Windham and her husband David; two granddaughters Jacqueline Slorach of Windham and her husband Timathy, and Jennifer Bessette of North Windham; and a great granddaughter Rhiannon Slorach of Windham. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday Nov. 26th between 10:00am and 11:00am with the funeral service beginning at 11:00am at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. Interment will follow in Windham Center Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Living Center Recreation Fund, 14 Club Rd., Windham, CT. 06280. For an online memorial guestbook and directions to the funeral home, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .