BANGOR – Elizabeth “Betty” A. Elias, 90, wife of the late Louis Elias, died May 21, 2011, at a local hospital after a brief illness. She was born July 24, 1920, in North Ellsworth, the daughter of Leland and Bernice (Starkey) Cowing.
Betty was a graduate of Maine School of Commerce, a member of Epsilon Tau Epsilon sorority and a lifetime member of St. John’s Catholic Church Women’s Council. After graduating from college and marrying, Betty was employed for years at Personal Finance Co., Bangor and Portland, and then left to become a stay-at-home mom. Later she became office manager for Bangor Real Estate Agency, then retired after almost 20 years. Betty dealt with a great deal of adversity and tragedy in life, but overcame all of it with grace, dignity and most of all, a great sense of humor. She was all about family and the echo of 65 years of family gatherings can still be heard emanating from her dining room on Birch Street.
She is survived by her son, Richard “Rick” Elias and his partner, Jeff Ward, of South Portland; her son-in-law, Rick Doll of Bangor; daughter-in-law, Sharon Elias of Bangor; three grandchildren, Shawn Doll and his wife, Kimberly, of Rockport, Joy and her husband, Andrew Cassidy, of Glenburn and John Elias and his wife, Leah, of Newark, Del.; four great-grandchildren, Arria Marie Doll, Roman Sebastian Cassidy, Tucker Braden Cassidy and Brandon Cassidy; her great-granddog, Khoury; several nieces, nephews and lifelong friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her daughter, Jackie Doll; son, John Elias; two brothers, Frederick and Phillip Cowing; and her sister, Harriett Cowing. The family sends special thanks to the certified nurse’s aides at Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Palliative Care at Eastern Maine Medical Center.
Friends may call 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Bangor. Interment will be afterward at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the interment. If you would like to remember Betty in a special way, gifts in her memory may be sent to the Jackie Doll Memorial Fund, LaFayette Family Cancer Center, care of Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.