Anna "Betty" Elizabeth (Taylor) McQuillan

Betty (Anna E. Taylor) McQuillan passed on October 1, 2018 at the age of 93.  She came into this world on Valentine’s Day in 1925 and was loved by everyone ever since. Born in Eden, North Carolina, she grew up in Hagaman and Amsterdam, New York before moving to Connecticut where she raised her family.

Betty was an office worker in the carpet mills of Amsterdam, New York during World War II as she awaited the return of her husband, Sam, from the Navy.  She volunteered at the Middlesex Hospital Thrift Shop and at the nursery ward where she was thrilled to take the first photos newborn babies. She loved children of all ages and was known by so many as “my other mother” or “my other grandmother”.  She especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all the “adopted” ones.  A picture of one of them in a sports activity, in a play, or singing or playing an instrument would elicit a smile to light up the room. The greatest joy of her last years was talking to her daughter, Leslie, on that speakerphone thing and hearing about her great- grandchildren and their various endeavors.

Betty will be remembered for her beautiful voice that graced the Sanctuary of many a church in upstate New York and Connecticut, especially the First Church of Christ on Court St. in Middletown, CT.  After her children were older she went back to taking voice lessons. She loved music of all kinds and especially that of her sons, granddaughter, and grandson.  Christmas parties were always full of musicians playing and everyone singing. She used her voice to help raise funds for the building of St. Pius Church in Westfield and, at the Bushnell, sang the National Anthem when President Ford ran for office.

She is predeceased by the love of her life, her husband, Samuel McQuillan; her brother Emmett (Buck) Taylor and his wife, Dorothy, and her brother-in-law Cecil McQuillan and his wife Mary, and a son-in-law, William Sheehan.  She is survived by a daughter, Leslie and son-in-law Donald Vincent; a son, Lee McQuillan and his wife Margaret Carbo, and son Jeffry McQuillan as well as her brother John Taylor and his wife Gloria, sister-in-law Ella and her husband Carson Thompson, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service at The First Congregational Church on Court St. in Middletown, CT. on Saturday, October 13th at 11:00 AM.  There will be a family burial in Amsterdam, New York at a later date.  There will be no viewing hours.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Church Music Fund, 190 Court St. Middletown, CT 06457 or to The Alzheimer’s Association of CT: 200 Executive Blvd, Suite 4B, Southington,  CT 06489. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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