Elizabeth “Betty” Brabant, (Sorrentino), age 98, of Wilmington, died peacefully on December 25, 2015.
Betty was born to a large first-generation Italian family on August 22, 2017. She was one of eleven children to the late Anthony and Maria Sorrentino from Boston, Massachusetts. Betty spent her childhood years growing up in Boston’s Italian North end at Constitution Way. She spent her childhood years with family and friends as a fearless and bold city girl. She met her husband “Rusty” as a teenager, and moved to the suburb of Wilmington, where they married and raised their 4 children, Richard Brabant, the late Amanda Valente, Gail True, and Paul Brabant.
Betty worked as a seamstress for L.L. Bean in Lowell, Massachusetts, in addition to being a homemaker. She sewed all of her children’s’ clothes, including prom gowns and wedding dresses. She had a passion for cooking traditional Italian dishes without ever using a recipe. There was nothing Betty couldn’t do in life. She was a problem-solver with a “Do what it takes” attitude.
Betty had a strong passion for helping others. In addition to raising her own family, Betty, most-well known as “Nonnie”, and her late husband Rusty, raised 3 grandchildren as their own, and helped so many others throughout her lifetime. She was a selfless woman, always and forever putting the needs of others ahead of her own be it family, friends, animals, or even a complete stranger. Betty was an inspirational, loving woman and an incredible role model to those around her. Above all, Betty was loyal to her church, to God and she loved and prayed to Jesus every day. She was a blessing to her family and an angel here on earth who has now been returned to heaven.
Betty, and her late husband Rusty, are grandparents to 12 grandchildren, 18 great children, 1 great-great grandchild and many extended family members. She is survived by her two sisters Dorothy Ferullo and Catherine Giannone, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will gather for a Funeral Service on Thursday, December 31st at 11:00AM, in the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave, (Rt. 62), Wilmington, MA. Interment to follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Visiting Hours will be held at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 30th from 5:00 – 8:00PM. Memorial donations in Betty’s name many be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
(NOTE: The above obituary and photo are from Nichols Funeral Home.)
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