Elizabeth J. York

Middletown, RI – Mrs. Elizabeth J. (Taranto) York, of Middletown, died Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at Newport Hospital. She was 98.

Known affectionately as Liz to family and Betty to friends she was born in Waltham on April 16, 1918, a daughter of the late Onofrio and Maria (Picone) Taranto. Betty was a 1936 graduate of Waltham High School.

Before and during World War II Betty worked in the finishing department of the Waltham Watch Factory where she worked on watches and other devices to be sent overseas. After the war she went to work repairing watches in Boston.

Eventually she opened Winchester Jewelers with her partner and husband, George York, and the couple made Reading their home in 1962. She moved to Middletown, Rhode Island in 2011.

Betty had been a longtime parishioner at Saint Athanasius Church in Reading and in retirement enjoyed traveling throughout Europe and the United States.

The wife of the late George York she leaves her step-children, Irene Fraser of East Falmouth, Alma Feil of Fort Worth, Texas and Elaine Chicco of Waltham; her sisters-in-law, Myra, Rose and Adelina Taranto; several step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and their families.

She was also a sister of the late James, Felix "Phil", Thomas and Joseph Taranto, Angelina Raimondi and Mary Manni.

Family and friends will honor and remember Betty's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, July 8th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.