Obituary of Bette Caddis

Vera Mona Betty Caddis, known to all as Bette Caddis, died of natural causes at her

Stamford home on May 18th, 2021. Bette was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England

on October 15th,1926 to William Dormer and Daisy Sharrard Dormer. On July 6th,1951

she married David Charles Caddis and a few years later moved to America, where she

resided until her death.

In 1983, she and David moved into the home they built together in Stamford, NY while

he was teaching at State University College of Oneonta.

Serving for many years as a librarian in the Stamford Village Library, Bette was a

regular fixture in the village. Active in the community, she served in various roles in

local organizations: SVIA, Mural, and Friends of Music. There she forged close and

lasting relationships with others who shared her love of gardening, art and music.

Her lasting influence in the village is evident in the flower barrels that she helped fill over

the years and in the signs where drivers leaving Stamford see the message “Drive with

Equanimity”, a phrase Bette used regularly to bid friends farewell and safe voyage and

which SVIA decided was a fitting message for the village’s farewell sign.

Bette never lost touch with her English roots and enjoyed an informal network with other

British immigrant women in the region. Referred to as the “Brit Chicks”, they rotate

hosting a monthly “tea” in their homes and Bette rarely missed these events

Nor did she lose touch with the many friends she made in Oneonta. She attended or

hosted a monthly dinner club of good friends that formed in the 1960s and continued for

over fifty years. She was a dedicated lover of classical music and attended Catskill

Symphony Orchestra concerts for decades

Bette was predeceased by her parents, her husband, David Charles Caddis, and her

sister, Joyce Wright. She is survived by her son, David William (Michelle) Caddis, her

daughter, Janie (Bruce) Russell, her grandchildren Michael (April) Hampel, Christopher

(Ashley) Hampel, Nicole Hampel, Jameson Russell, Mia Russell, Noah (Maria) Caddis

and her great grandchildren Robert London, Matilda Caddis and Leo Caddis. She is

also survived by beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews in America and overseas.

A celebration of Bette’s life will be held at a future date to be announced. In lieu of

flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Catskill Symphony Orchestra, PO

Box 14, Oneonta, NY 13820 or The Honest Brook Music Festival, Inc. PO Box 3092,

Delhi, NY 13753.

Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with Bette’s family.