Southampton native Elizabeth Jessup Servis died on October 2 at her home in the company of her daughter Suzanne. Known as “Betty” to friends and family, she was 96.
She was the daughter of William Albert Jessup and Mary Ann MacLeod, and her ancestor, John Jessup, was listed as a resident of Southampton in 1649. She grew up at the family homestead on Hampton Road with three brothers, Albert, Malcolm, and Francis, and a sister, Muriel, all of whom predeceased her.
A graduate of the Southampton Schools, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1932 to attend Sargent College of Boston University. She graduated from Boston University in 1936 with a Bachelor of Science degree and began work as a physical therapist at Stamford Hall in Stamford, Connecticut. She subsequently moved to Wausau, Wisconsin, where she worked as a physical therapist for Employer’s Mutual Insurance Company.
In 1941, while in Wausau, she married Richard John Servis of Brooklyn. The couple was married for 52 years and lived in various locations as Mr. Servis pursued his career as a chemical engineer for Sterling Drug Company. Following his death in 1994, Mrs. Servis moved back to Southampton and resided, again, on Hampton Road near her sister, Muriel McMahon.
In 1995, she married John Waldbillig, a longtime family friend. A widower, he had married a Boston University classmate of Betty’s and the families had remained in touch over the years. The couple enjoyed traveling with family and friends—one memorable trip was to Bermuda with nieces Sheila Guidera of Southampton, Pennie Wood of Bay Shore and Fay Young of Aquebogue, with their respective husbands and two other couples. Mr. Waldbillig died in 2005 and Mrs. Servis continued to pursue an active life that included playing bridge and volunteering at the Southampton Hospital Thrift Shop.
According to survivors, she was loving and fun-loving and doted on her cats, Freddie and Eddie.
She is survived by a daughter, Suzanne Jessup Servis of Maryland; a grandson, Thomas Stearns; and a great-grandson, Isaiah Stearns, both of Wisconsin; and three stepchildren, Karen Rich of Illinois, John Waldbillig of Rochester and Neil Waldbillig of Clifton Park, and their spouses.
She is also survived by four nieces, Sheila Guidera, Pennie Wood, Fay Young and Elaine Owens; and two nephews, John McMahon and David Jessup, and their families—all of whom said this week that they will miss her.
Another daughter, Nancy Jessup Servis, predeceased her in 1991.
The family received friends and visitors on October 5 at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 would be appreciated by the family.
on Oct 7, 2009