Obituary of Betty L. Fanelli

Betty Louise Capria Fanelli, 82, of Morris Plains passed away on January 23, 2023 at Morristown Medical Center.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Betty resided in Rockaway, NJ before moving to Morris Plains, NJ 26 years ago.

Betty earned her Associate Degree in Computer Science from the County College of Morris in 1985. She worked as a Senior Product Manager for Lucent Technologies in Whippany for 17 years until she retired in 2002.   

In 2002, Betty suffered a major heart attack and was given very little chance of survival.  Driven by her incredible inner strength, Betty overcame a multitude of health challenges and received a donor heart, which blessed her with a long life and allowed her to take part in the raising of her grandchildren which was a great joy to her.  Throughout her life, Betty had been engaged in many activities including gardening, sewing, crocheting, painting, solving Mensa puzzles, running for political office, reading, cooking, hosting family parties, and planning wonderful vacations.  In addition, she had been the editor of the White Meadow Lake Newsletter and President of the Morris County Organ Transplant/Donate Life Group.

Betty is survived by her loving husband Tony, and her devoted children, Barbara Fanelli Ringheim and her husband, Garth, John Fanelli and his wife, Carolyn, Marc Fanelli and his wife, Dina, and Michael Fanelli and his wife, Marissa. She is also survived by her beloved sisters, Carol Romeo and Joan Capria, her cherished grandchildren, Julia Fanelli, Deanna Fanelli, AJ Fanelli, Katherine Fanelli, Michael J. Fanelli, and Daniel Fanelli, her dear sister-in-law, Mary Reagan, and her adored nieces and nephews, Christina Capria, Thomas Capria, Cara Christofor, James Capria, Robert Capria, Lauren Prestigiacomo, Alice Tier, Susan Johner, Patty Ferry, Billy Fallon, Keith Fallon, Kenny Reagan, Andrew Reagan and Audrey Solarino.  Betty is predeceased by her brother, Robert Capria, sister-in-law, Alice Fallon, sister-in-law, Barbara Capria, brother-in-law, Sonny Fanelli, brother-in-law, Peter Romeo, and nephew, David Reagan.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023 from 2:00-5:00 pm, concluding with a Service at 5:00 pm at Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains. (The family kindly requests guests to wear masks while inside the Funeral Home.)  Interment of ashes will be private at Gate of Heaven, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in memory of Betty be made to: Catholic Charities (https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/), American Heart Association (www.heart.org), or Columbia Presbyterian Heart Failure Research Program (https://medicine.givenow.columbia.edu/).