Betty Budney, age 82, of Cold Spring, New York, died on Monday, March 2, 2015, at Westchester Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant.
Born in Cold Spring on Sept. 1, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Gifford R. and Mary (Hobby) Wright. She was predeceased by her husband Stanley “Mackey” Budney in 2013.
Mrs. Budney had worked for the former Grand Union in Cold Spring where she was the front end manager and bookkeeper, retiring after 38 years of service. Betty, as she was known to all, was a larger-than-life figure in the Cold Spring and Philipstown area.
Ever civically minded, she was the first woman to be elected to the Philipstown town council and served as a town councilwoman for 24 years. She served as liaison to the town’s Highway Department and Recycling Department and was deputy town supervisor from 1994 to 2009. She regretfully retired from public service on Dec. 31, 2013, due to illness.
In 2012 she was honored as “Woman of Distinction” for her distinguished volunteer service and civic commitment to Philipstown. She was a past president and active member of the Philipstown Democratic Club. She was also a member and past president of the Cold Spring Lions Club, where she was honored with the Melvin Jones Award.
She organized the Philipstown Relay for Life and diligently raised monies for the American Cancer Society through the Daffodil Festival. She received the “Humanitarian Award” given by the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged by the New York State Assembly, County of Putnam, and U.S. House of Representatives. She received the “Congressional Proclamation” for commitment and dedication to improving the lives of others in 2014, acknowledged by the Putnam County executive. She also received the “Anchor” Award from Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Putnam County “Outstanding Volunteerism” Award.
Mrs. Budney was a past member of the Butterfield Hospital Auxiliary Board of Directors, Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Cold Spring Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary and Philipstown Little League Association. She was chair of the Lions See Committee, Children’s Holiday Wish List and Food Baskets, Philipstown Cemeteries Clean-Up Committee and Philipstown E-911.
Survivors include two daughters, Catherine Greenough of Cold Spring and Denise (Byron) Brewer of Brewster; five grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren. Predeceasing her, in addition to her husband, was a daughter, Mary Jo Knapp, and two sisters, Elaine Reilly-Dahlia and Veronica Jean Wright.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 6, at Our Lady of Loretto Church, 24 Fair St. in Cold Spring. Interment will follow in the Cold Spring Cemetery. Friends may call at the Clinton Funeral Home, at the corner of Parrott and Pine Streets (21 Parrott St.) in Cold Spring, on Thursday, March 5, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Donations may be made in Mrs. Budney’s name to the Cold Spring Lions Club (Betty Budney Christmas Wish List), P.O. Box 308, Cold Spring, NY 10516.
No one, of any age, had the vitality, dedication and bright outlook on life compared to Betty. Having served on the Town Board with her for eight years, campaigned with her for many years, and worked with her on several of her charitable endeavors, I was ever amazed at her energy, good will, love of her town and people everywhere. Never putting herself first, she was selfless in willingness to help anyone for any reason.
All I can say is that SHE WILL BE MISSED, and it will be a long time before there is another like her. Our Town will miss her, our political life will miss her, my family will miss her, I will miss her.
You said it beautifully, Tony. I completely agree. I too will miss her.
End of an era. Mackey, MaryJo and now Betty. Cold Spring will not seem the same without the Budneys to bring joy to my life.
As the son of Edward Budney and the Grandson of Frank and Dorothy Budney, Aunt Betty and Uncle Mackey hold a special spot in my heart.
Some of the many things I remember is Church Street, pancake breakfast at the firehouse, BBQ’s at Aunt Betty and Uncle Mackey’s house in the summer. Playing whiffle ball in front of their house with my cousin’s. Trying Uncle Mackey’s pipe for the first time when I was very young. Aunt Betty, what a powerful and distinct voice from such a pretty, intelligent, classy lady. What a pillar in the community you became. The way you led in everything you chose to be a part of, made all of us Budney’s so very proud.
Aunt Betty you will be dearly missed from the local community and from your entire family near and far. Please give Grandpa Bud, Grandma Bud, and Uncle Mackey a big hug for me. Rest in Peace now Aunt Betty.
Betty was Philipstown “royalty.” I am glad to have known her.
Betty was the most influential Budney to my knowledge and it makes me so proud to be a Budney and to see how many lives she touched in the town of Cold Spring and beyond. She will be missed, I wish there were more people like her in this world but there can only be one, Betty Budney.
I can’t add much to these beautiful words about Betty than to add that she was an inspiration to me.
She was fierce.
She was indefatigable.
She was noble.
And she had a huge and loving heart.
I will miss her.
Betty and Mackey you were the first to greet and welcome our family to the neighborhood. You treated us like we were your own family and you made us feel we had found a “home” here in Cold Spring.
We all love you for that and are better people for knowing you. We’ll do our best to carry on your tradition of treating everyone like family. Thank you!
So glad you are together again!
Betty Budney was probably the first public figure I met when I came to Cold Spring, and I will always remember her. She carried herself with poise and professionalism and never seemed to run out of time for volunteering, no matter what was going on in her personal life. What a woman. What a loss.