SHERBURNE – Elizabeth “Betty” McDaniel, 80, of East State St., passed away Sunday, May 20, 2007 at her home with her family by her side.
She was born Nov. 15, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan, a daughter of Melvin and Elizabeth Meyers Tibbens. She graduated as salutatorian of her Otselic High School class of 1944 and received a scholarship for business school in Syracuse. On July 8, 1950, Betty was united in marriage to John M. McDaniel at St. Malachy’s Church in Sherburne. Betty worked at the I.L. Richer Company in Sherburne, the Sherburne-Earlville Central School for 25 years, and at the Sherburne News with her husband and son, Jim. Her many abilities included making and decorating beautiful wedding, graduation and birthday cakes; decorating parade floats; making banners for the church, as well as being a key organizer for the S-E Booster Club.
Betty was a communicant of St. Malachy’s Church, a member and past president of the Altar and Rosary Society, and a member of the Parish Council. She was involved in many community organizations, including the American Legion Post #876 Auxiliary, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and was an original organizer of the Sherburne St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Betty and John were honored as Sherburne’s Citizens of the Year for 2006.
Betty’s family was her number one priority and she enjoyed many family gatherings at home. She also enjoyed traveling, both domestic and abroad. Gardening in the spring and summer was one of her favorite pastimes, and her Christmas porch displays were anticipated annually by many in the community. She was a tremendous cook and baker, and a wonderful friend to all who knew her.
Surviving are her husband, John; her children, Kay Riddlemoser of East Syracuse; Linda and Richard Ketzak of Chenango Forks; Jay and Wendy McDaniel, Jack and Kathy McDaniel, Jim and Diane McDaniel, all of Sherburne; David and Karen McDaniel of Clinton; Tom and Lynette McDaniel, Bob and Brenda McDaniel, all of Sherburne; Ellen and Warren Linhart of Manlius; her sisters and brother-in-law, Marie Suydan of Sherburne; Katherine and Earl Kurtz of Marathon; her grandchildren, John Riddlemoser, Rebecca McDaniel, Kyle McDaniel, Rachel McDaniel, Branden McDaniel, Bridgette McDaniel, Jesse McDaniel, Sean McDaniel, Nicholas McDaniel, Julia McDaniel, Miranda McDaniel, David McDaniel, Brent McDaniel, Bradley McDaniel, John T. McDaniel, Elise McDaniel, Brett Linhart, Mike Ketzak, Bob Ketzak, Tyler Vanderwood and Kelsey Vanderwood. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Betty was predeceased by three brothers, James, John and Frank Tibbens.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Malachy’s Church, Sherburne, followed by burial in St. Malachy’s Parish Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30 PM and from 7-9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Hospital and Palliative Care, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815; or to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Research, 111 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714.