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Elizabeth Eugenia Kent
Elizabeth Eugenia Kent of Southampton died on Tuesday, May 24, three days before her 86th birthday.
Ms. Kent, known as Betty to friends, was born on May 27, 1925, in Hornell, New York, to Roy and Florence Johnson. Her family lived for a brief time in Buffalo before relocating to Miami, Florida, in 1926. Ms. Kent graduated from Gesu Parish School in 1943 and received and associate’s degree from D’Youville College in 1945.
In 1948, she met Michael Kent at a church social. In 1952, Mr. Kent was offered a job in Mobile, Alabama, so he asked Ms. Kent for her hand in marriage, and they moved to Mobile where they were married on June 14, 1952.
In 1955, the couple and their two children relocated back to Miami, where the rest of their children were born. Between 1955 and 1972, Betty had six more children, which kept her very busy. In 1980, the family relocated to Southampton when Mr. Kent was hired to manage WSBH radio.
Ms. Kent was a faithful member of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Southampton and served in numerous capacities over the last 31 years. She taught religious education and vacation Bible school, delivered food for Human Resources, volunteered at the monthly senior citizens luncheon, and attended the weekly Bible study group. She was also a member of the Parrish Art Museum and the Southampton Historical Museum.
Ms. Kent was charming, had a great sense of humor, was able to make new friends with ease, would talk to anyone who would listen and sometimes even those who wouldn’t, but most of all, she was a natural-born storyteller, said survivors. She had an amazing ability to be at the ready with a wonderful story, full of colorful details that she could fit into just about any topic of conversation. The exciting stories of her many adventures from life as a young girl to the day of her death will live on through her family and friends forever, they added.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary and John Tanner of Florida; four daughters, Margaret and her husband Chris DeCristofaro of Southampton, Jennifer and her husband Luis Duque of Southampton, Barbara and her husband Michael Ritter of Texas, and Kitty Kent of South Carolina; four sons and their wives, Philip and Jill Kent of Cutchogue, Christopher and Catherine Kent of Baiting Hollow, Peter and Rosemary Kent of South Carolina, and Mark and Anne Kent of Wisconsin; six granddaughters, Sarah Kent, Emma Kent, Amanda Kent, Madison Kent, Caroline Kent, and Bella Duque; and five grandsons, Travis Kent, Matthew Kent, Daniel Kent, Max Kent, and Brendan Kent. She was predeceased in 2010 by her husband of 58 years, Michael.
Memorial services were held on Wednesday, June 1, at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton and a funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, June 2, at 10 a.m., at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Southampton, followed by interment at the church’s cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, 168 Hill Street, Southampton, NY 11968, would be appreciated by the family.
on May 30, 2011