Elizabeth “Betty” Cava (Dec. 23, 1928 to Dec. 21, 2015). We celebrate the life of our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend—Elizabeth “Betty” Gabriel Annunciata Cava, born Dec. 23, 1928, in Brooklyn to her mother, Nancy Galeone Valentino and father, Ralph Valentino. Betty often spoke of her childhood in Brooklyn, most notably about her grandfather’s bakery, where she immersed herself in the tastes and smells of a master Italian baker. Betty had charisma, vitality and a wonderful sense of humor, sharing her love of travel, food, cinema and Italian culture with her friends and loved ones as the matriarch of the Cava family.
She was known for her delicious baked cavatelli, her sharp and energetic mind, her dedicated involvement within her church community and her perpetual support for her family. Betty was a strong and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her six children—Virginia, Ralph, Anthony, Nancy, Margaret and James—her 12 grandchildren and her two great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Columbiettes and St. Peter’s Church in Port Washington and a valued member of the Consolation Ministry at St. Peter’s.
Betty was always the first to arrive and the last to leave a party—her presence in the lives and celebrations of those who love her will be sorely missed.
