Elizabeth "Bette" C. Alexander

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

Elizabeth C. (Saganetti) Alexander, passed away on January 10, 2023 at her home in Bellingham, WA, with her dear friend and neighbor Nuha by her side. The fourth of six children, Elizabeth was born in Westchester County, New York to Salvatore and Elizabeth (Fabiano) Saganetti. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert R. Alexander and her five siblings: Dominic, Nicholas, and Albert Saganetti, Santa “Sally” Maria (Saganetti) Olson, and Katherine (Saganetti) Paine. She leaves behind her nieces and nephews: Sharon Paine, Robert D. Paine (wife Nita), Edward Paine (wife Tonnea), all of Wenatchee, WA; Tom Paine (wife Holly) of Seattle, WA; Leah Saganetti of Taunton, MA; Elizabeth (Olson) Taranto and her late husband Louis of Toms River, NJ; Dr. Robert Olson (wife JoAnn) of Plymouth, MA; Kenneth E. Olson (wife Emily) of Foxboro, MA; Susan (Olson) Disalvo (husband Alfred) of Haverhill, MA; and Ronald Olson of West Bridgewater, MA. Our beloved Aunt Liz has numerous great and great-great-nephews and -nieces that will miss her words of wisdom and her spontaneous antics. The fond memories and travel adventures we experienced will be shared generationally. Bette also leaves behind other relatives, friends, acquaintances, and former colleagues who have expressed fun-loving memories of her and her generous nature. She will be missed and her spirit will be well-remembered.

Bette was a graduate of Whitman High School in Massachusetts where she boasted playing basketball in the 1940’s. She worked for New England Telephone and after relocating to Washington State, she worked for Pacific Bell Telephone where she met her husband, Robert. They married on May 28, 1949 in Wenatchee, WA. Bob and Bette moved to Bellingham where she lived for the rest of her life. They shared a passion for boating, so living near the water was a perfect fit for them both.

Bette was an accomplished woman, earning her Master of Education degree from Western Washington University. She taught in the Bellingham and Mount Baker School Districts. After retirement she became a world traveler and avid golfer. She also managed to lead an extremely active life with many memberships: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Washington State Retired Teachers, Bellingham Retired Teachers, WWU Music Department, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and Mary Knight Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club and later the Lake Padden Women’s Golf Club. She did countless works of goodwill service throughout the years and is especially noted for being a tireless volunteer at the Bellingham Visitor Center. She even fit in the task of knitting prayer shawls! Bette was a devout Catholic who attended Mass as often as possible. She exemplified stewardship sharing her time, talents, and treasures. We are grateful for her testimony and demonstrating what a relationship looks like with the Lord. We thank the Lord that she lived a long fulfilling life, and our family was blessed to have her. We trust in God’s promises that she was called home and has peace in His Kingdom, and we will someday reunite with her.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bette’s memory may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Bellingham), PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center (Bellingham), Heart Association (Seattle), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle), Salvation Army, WWU Department of Music, Whatcom Symphony, or to your favorite charity.

Services will be held on Friday, January 20th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1110 14th St. in Bellingham as follows: 10 am visitation with Rosary, 11 am Mass of Christian Burial with reception at the parish hall, and Committal following at Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale.
You may view the Mass via livestream here - https://youtube.com/live/0oOcyYbOdOo?feature=share