Mary “Bette” E. Coleman

Bette passed away peacefully at home on February 1, 2025 surrounded by her family. She had a few jobs when she was young (worked for a movie theater and sowed socks for troops) but she found her real calling as a mom, grandmom and great grandmom. She was forever proud of her son, the late Thomas, and saw her role as spoiler-in-chief to her grandchildren. Her happy place was down in Wildwood Crest, always the week of the Firemen’s convention, enjoying walking the promenade, sitting on the deck, enjoying the beach and the occasional Manhattan. In her later years she transitioned to a glass of wine. She also loved bringing her family back together for spaghetti dinners; of course, she could also cook a little Irish food as well. If her T.V. was on, she’d be watching some Golden Girls and Little House on the Prairie. Besides a short stint in Ohio, she lived her entire life in the same home on Lippincott Ave.

The pretty Riverside girl would meet a handsome Beverly boy. Bette and the late Tom shared a 52-year marriage blessed by a son, the late Thomas (Elaine), and later by grandchildren, Thomas B Jr. and Lauren and great-grandchildren, Toryn, Kendall, Dylan, Autumn, and Michael as well as her nieces and nephews. She was the daughter of late Sarah and Francis “Frank” Mitsch and sister of late Francis “Hank” Mitsch.

Come celebrate 97 great years Saturday Feb. 8, 10-11 a.m. at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside where there will be an 11 a.m. service. Interment St. Peter’s Cemetery, Riverside.