Elizabeth “Betty” McFadden Schulte, 91, passed away in peace at her home in Shadow Lake Village in Middletown Nov. 5.
She was predeceased by her husband of 46 years Harry J. Schulte Jr., her brother Robert McFadden and nephew Daniel McFadden. Betty is survived by Peter and Carol Schulte, Devon Schulte, Megan and Adam Bencen, Susan and Paul Russoniello, Jamie Russoniello, Christopher and Margaret Russoniello, Karen and Shawn O’Neill, Gregory O’Neill and Molly O’Neill. Betty is also survived by Nancy McFadden MacWhinney, Margaret McFadden, Bonny and Steven Cramer, Kathy MacWhinney, Betsy MacWhinney, Sarah McFadden, Timothy McFadden and Manos Koundourakis.
Betty predeceased many life-long friends and cherished those who are still living, most notably her loving, loyal care giver Claudia Holness.
Betty earned her bachelor’s in history from the University of Rochester in 1949, after which she married her husband Harry, began her family, and taught elementary school. After living in Rochester and Minneapolis the family moved to Whippany where she was an active participant in the founding of the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Church. After two years in Bethesda, Maryland where she transcribed literature into Braille and was a member of the committee writing letters of appreciation for Jacqueline Kennedy for hundreds of letters of condolence after President John F. Kennedy’s death, the family moved to Berkeley Heights, then Fair Haven in 1967.
She served on the Fair Haven School Board, was very active in the Fair Haven Garden Club, was passionately involved with the early efforts of establishing the Rutgers Gardens and served on the board of the New Jersey State Garden Club. She was a committed and enthusiastic volunteer. This included serving many years as a Planned Parenthood counselor and tutoring at-risk children.
Betty was extremely supportive of and generous with her six grandchildren. Her legacy is one of promoting education, love of the arts, charity, tolerance and diversity. She will be sorely missed.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held in the future. In lieu of flowers kindly send a contribution to Planned Parenthood, 69 East Newman Springs Road, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 or Friends of Rutgers Garden, 112 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
