Elizabeth (Klingmeyer) Foster, 86, passed away March 29, 2025 at home surrounded by family.

Betsy was born the youngest of 5 children to Charles and Elizabeth (Shearer) Klingmeyer and was a member of St. Peter the Apostle parish. She spoke often of her memories while growing up in New Castle such as making sandwiches to sell on the Ferry, playing with her siblings and friends around their home on Frenchtown Road, events at St. Peter's Catholic school like the May Procession and receiving the sacraments, as well as visiting friends and family around town.

After high school graduation, Betsy attended St. Francis School of Nursing, where she made lifelong friends and began the vocation she continued until her retirement. In her twenties, she divided her time between work, art classes, and vacations with friends. But time with family remained a priority, especially after her beloved nieces and nephews started arriving.

Betsy also made the decision to volunteer for VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and was stationed in Ohio. She spoke of this as a time of deepening awareness around social issues affecting impoverished families, what can be done to help, and how to treat all people with respect and care.

When Betsy returned home, she settled back into work and life and soon met Jim Foster (also from New Castle) who would become her husband. The pair moved up to Pennsylvania and started their family. But New Castle always held strong family ties and trips back home remained important. Her children also loved New Castle as if it were their own hometown since it was where so much of their family and close family friends were.

Betsy retired from nursing after working for over 30 years as an Emergency Room nurse, with Grand View Hospital being where she spent most of her career. Her caring and supportive nature made her an excellent nurse, co-worker and friend. Her neighbors and friends in PA created a close-knit home away from home for Betsy.

Betsy was always creating and working on new "projects". She was a talented artist and was known for her incredibly thoughtful gifts she would make for people.

As a mother, she was just beautiful. Loving, caring, honest and helpful.

Betsy is survived by her beloved children Ed (Deb) Foster, Leah (Steven) Rash and Laura (Josh Swartley) Foster and her grandchildren Emma, Alivia, Camille, Leila, Peter, Miriam and Jude. She is also survived by her loving brother Fred (Margaret) Klingmeyer and her many nieces and nephews to whom she will forever be Aunt Bets.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jim, her infant son Vincent, her parents Charles and Elizabeth Klingmeyer, brothers Charles "Sonny" and John "Jack" Klingmeyer, sister MaryAnn (Klingmeyer) Givens, brother-in-law Joseph Givens and sister-in-law Connie Colvin).

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church on Harmony Street in New Castle DE on Wednesday, April 9th at 10:00am. Internment will follow the mass at the adjoining church cemetery. Friends may call at Krienen Griffith Funeral Home, 101 W. 6th St., New Castle, DE, on Tuesday, April 8th from 6 to 8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to WHYY Public Broadcasting System.