Bettye L. Chant

Bettye Lou Chant (Cerrone), a longtime resident of Bayport, NY, passed away peacefully on February 6, in her Highland Park, NJ home. She was 92 years old. Bettye was born on December 27, 1932 to Robert and Nina (Paterna) and grew up in the upstate New York community of Johnstown. She was the valedictorian of her high school class and attended St Lawrence University and Albany State College, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

Immediately upon graduation from college in December 1954, she married her high school sweetheart, Dick Chant. They moved to Long Island, where they would live, work and play for 60 years. Bettye was a high school math teacher; she taught at Sayville High School for over a decade prior to retirement. Bettye is survived by her two siblings: Carol Cerrone and Robert Cerrone; 4 children: James and his wife Susan, Robert and his wife Nancy Walworth, Eileen and her husband Rick Burke, David and his wife Hattharueya Cee Narsuep ; 7 grandchildren: Stephen and his wife Malarie, Emma, Laura, Rebecca, Hannah Burke, Liam Burke and Padric Burke, and two great-children: Avery and Austin.

Bettye was an energetic and intelligent force in life. She had a sharp wit and a great sense of humor. She lived her lengthy life fully and had countless hobbies including swimming, bicycling, gardening, traveling and studying languages, most particularly Italian.

She was a longtime member of the Sayville Yacht Club in Bluepoint, NY and a parishioner of St. Ann’s Church in Sayville, NY.

When her beloved husband Dick Chant, began to decline in 2014, they moved to Highland Park, NJ, where she was able to break bread and spend much quality time with Robert, Eileen and her five New Jersey grandchildren, over the past 10 years.

Bettye will be greatly missed but never forgotten. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Stein Hospice of Central New Jersey. We will celebrate a life well lived at a service on Saturday, March 8th, at 11 AM at St. Ann’s Parish, 257 Middle Road, Sayville NY.