Obituary of Bettyann C Bowlby

Bettyann Bowlby (born Papcun), Nana to her grandchildren, of Raritan, NJ went home to the Lord on September 16, 2024.  She was 90 years old.

                Bettyann was born in Somerville, NJ to John and Anne Papcun (born Kayto).  She grew up in Dunellen, NJ.  Bettyann attended Villa Victoria Academy in Ewing, NJ on a scholarship for voice.  Here she began her journey with her lifelong passion for singing.  This journey took her from school to the stage at Carnegie Hall.  It took her from musical theater and the Ted Mack Amateur Hour to church choirs.  For most of her life she shared her talent with the congregations of Saint James Catholic Church in Basking Ridge and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Somerville as a soloist and a cantor.  Bettyann was happiest when she could share her voice in celebration with others and was honored to sing for weddings and funerals for many friends and families. Bettyann’s voice was her gift and to hear her sing was something you would not soon forget.

                Bettyann married Dick (Richard) Bowlby on January 14, 1956.  They had three children, Dick (Richard), Marianne, and Jim (James) and settled in Basking Ridge, NJ when the children were young.  They lived there for over 30 years, forming many lifelong friendships that meant so much to Bettyann.  Dick and Bettyann later moved to Somerville, where Dick had grown up, rekindling and reconnecting with family and friends there.

                Together Dick and Bettyann enjoyed many rounds of golf as members at the Raritan Valley Country Club.  Bettyann was very active in the ladies’ leagues there and made countless friends playing in tournaments and travelling to different clubs for invitationals.  Dick and Bettyann also had a summer home for many years in Manasquan, NJ.  There they enjoyed the sun and the beach with family and friends, and again formed many lifelong, close friendships that meant so much to both of them.

                Bettyann was also an active member of the Bonafides in Basking Ridge for many years.  She participated in Tricky Trays and fashion show events to help support the Bonafides’ charity mission.  She enjoyed organizing the Bonafides Christmas gift program for needy families, making sure these families had food and presents for the holiday season.  Bettyann began making knit hats for chemo patients while a member of the Bonafides.  She and the Bonafides donated many hats to area hospitals, a practice that Bettyann continued as long as she was able.

                Bettyann was a kind and gentle soul who genuinely liked people.  Her friends became her extended family and if you knew her you could not help but feel her love and concern.  She will be greatly missed.

                Bettyann was predeceased by her parents Anne (Kayto) and John Papcun, and her husband, Dick Bowlby.  She is survived by her children: her son Dick and his wife Kathleen (Hill), her daughter Marianne Orlando and her husband, Bill, and her son Jim and his wife Kim (Miller).  She is also survived by her 6 grandchildren:  Anne Bowlby, Maggie Bowlby and her husband Alex Karp, Jeff Orlando, Ashley Lehmann and her husband, Derek, Jacob Bowlby and Gabrielle Bowlby.   Bettyann also leaves behind countless extended family and cherished friends whose lives she touched through her love.

                Viewing will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 5PM -8PM; Monday, September 23, from 8 AM - 9:15 AM at Bongiovi Funeral Home, 416 Bell Avenue, Raritan, NJ.   Funeral Mass 10AM at Immaculate Conception Church, 35 Mountain Avenue, Somerville, NJ.  Entombment immediately following at St. Bernard Cemetery, 550 Route 28, Bridgewater.

                                                       "FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS"

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bettyann's memory be made to the Alzheimer's Association https://act.alz.org