Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, December 13, 2015 from 2-6 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 14 at 10:30 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
Elizabeth C. McKenzie (nee Cleland) “Betty” age 96 of Pompton Plains, passed peacefully on Monday, December 7, 2015.
Betty was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1919 to loving parents Frank Benedict Cleland, a Wall Street broker, and Elizabeth Octavia Cleland (nee Taliaferro).
Betty grew up in Suffern and White Plains New York. As a young woman, she attended Rosemary Hall, a private boarding school in Greenwich, Connecticut. There she met and danced with future U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Most young ladies would be so enamored to have a chance to dance with destiny and, having had that chance to dance, would probably want to date a man as handsome as Mr. Kennedy, but not Betty! You see, Betty was extremely passionate about dancing and, as she described it, “he wasn’t a great dancer.” During her school years, she was also featured in a Life Magazine article about the dances which took place at Rosemary Hall.
Betty later moved to New York City, where one of her first jobs was working at a record store. Her love of music went hand-in-hand with her love of dance and, during her days at the record store, she collected literally hundreds of records. Her beauty earned her a job as a model and her mastery of dance, a job as a dance instructor. She was always looking for opportunities to dance, even volunteering during World War II as a dancer with the troops. A real opera connoisseur, she attended almost weekly. Her artistic talents were truly multi-faceted. Not only could she also play piano, guitar and banjo, but she was a talented singer too, and as such, Betty was a longtime member of the Harmony Singers. With them, she performed at venues including Carnegie Hall.
Betty and her boyfriend once went out with another couple on a date. The other couple included her girlfriend who was blindly paired with her boyfriend’s friend Donald W. McKenzie. Soon after, she broke up with her boyfriend and Mr. McKenzie, so smitten by Betty on that double date, wasted no time to ask Betty out. That date led to a loving relationship and ultimately to marriage on Saturday, September 1, 1956 in Groton, Connecticut. Soon after, Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie purchased a home in Oakland where they were blest with the opportunity to raise their three children: George, Gregory, and Joyce. Over the span of their years of marriage until Don’s passing in 1975, they frequently enjoyed vacations in Groton Long Point in Connecticut.
In the early 1980’s, Betty purchased a beautiful ranch with lovely gardens on a lake in Wayne. There, she enjoyed hosting many parties for friends that she met in the various groups she was involved in. This was a perfect home for Betty as she had a great love for gardening and often collected flowers and plants wherever she went. She never saw a plant or flower she didn’t like and so her house sometimes looked like a jungle because she felt the need to save everyone. They were her babies! Betty passed that passion down to her daughter Joyce – a wise and fortunate thing since Joyce regularly rewarded her in later years by bringing fresh cut flowers on a weekly basis from her own gardens.
Some years after Donald’s passing, Betty met her longtime friend and companion Bill Tynan at a Parents Without Partners event. She appreciated a gentleman who knew how to dance and Bill was a great dancer. Together they danced for 30 years until his passing in 2005.
Betty was a member of Parents Without Partners for over thirty-five years where she served for a longtime as their president. Because of her dedication, her chapter of PWP Number 552 in Oakland is one of the few remaining chapters still operating.
Betty was a member of St. Albans Church in Oakland where she was active in the women’s club and, to no surprise, an important asset as a singer in the choir.
While everyone has a family history, Betty’s goes back on both sides of her family to some of the most prominent families in early America.
On her father Frank Benedict Cleland’s side Betty was related to George Morton, one of the first settlers of the Plymouth Plantation who arrived on the ship Ann which followed the Mayflower. A favorite family keepsake is a sampler crafted by her Great-Great-Great Aunt Laura Morton in 1806. Through her father’s side of the family she is also related to our country’s 8th president - President Martin Van Buren.
On her mother Elizabeth Octavia Cleland’s (nee Taliaferro) side, the Taliaferro family of Orange, VA, was one of the most prominent first families in Virginia. Through this side of her family, Betty was related to another one of our country’s presidents - President Zachary Taylor – our 12th president, as well as Senator James Piper Taliaferro and various others. In addition Betty’s grandfather Felix Taylor Taliaferro fought in the Civil War.
Although she never pursued it, Betty had the lineage to be a “Daughter of the American Revolution” on both sides of her family. Despite this distinctive position within America’s history, Betty was really a reserved and quiet woman and never one to boast. She would rather listen and enjoy the company of others, than speak of herself.
Above all, she cherished her family and was happiest being surrounded by them.
Surviving is her son Gregory of Hewitt and her daughter Joyce Hayter and husband William Delia of Pompton Plains; six grandchildren: Elizabeth Hayter, Kaitlin, Tara, and Kelly McKenzie, and Cherylyn and Dena Delia; and her brother Frank T. Cleland and wife Katherine of Lakeland, FL. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Donald W. McKenzie in 1975, her longtime companion Bill Tynan in 2005, her son George in 1962, and her grandson Edward Hayter in 2010.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, December 13, 2015 from 2-6 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 14 at 10:30 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, December 13, 2015 from 2-6 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 14 at 10:30 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at the First Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains.
Elizabeth C. McKenzie (nee Cleland) “Betty” age 96 of Pompton Plains, passed peacefully on Monday, December 7, 2015.
Betty was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1919 to loving parents Frank Benedict Cleland, a Wall Street broker, and Elizabeth Octavia Cleland (nee Taliaferro).
Betty grew up in Suffern and White Plains New York. As a young woman, she attended Rosemary Hall, a private boarding school in Greenwich, Connecticut. There she met and danced with future U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Most young ladies would be so enamored to have a chance to dance with destiny and, having had that chance to dance, would probably want to date a man as handsome as Mr. Kennedy, but not Betty! You see, Betty was extremely passionate about dancing and, as she described it, “he wasn’t a great dancer.” During her school years, she was also featured in a Life Magazine article about the dances which took place at Rosemary Hall.
Betty later moved to New York City, where one of her first jobs was working at a record store. Her love of music went hand-in-hand with her love of dance and, during her days at the record store, she collected literally hundreds of records. Her beauty earned her a job as a model and her mastery of dance, a job as a dance instructor. She was always looking for opportunities to dance, even volunteering during World War II as a dancer with the troops. A real opera connoisseur, she attended almost weekly. Her artistic talents were truly multi-faceted. Not only could she also play piano, guitar and banjo, but she was a talented singer too, and as such, Betty was a longtime member of the Harmony Singers. With them, she performed at venues including Carnegie Hall.
Betty and her boyfriend once went out with another couple on a date. The other couple included her girlfriend who was blindly paired with her boyfriend’s friend Donald W. McKenzie. Soon after, she broke up with her boyfriend and Mr. McKenzie, so smitten by Betty on that double date, wasted no time to ask Betty out. That date led to a loving relationship and ultimately to marriage on Saturday, September 1, 1956 in Groton, Connecticut. Soon after, Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie purchased a home in Oakland where they were blest with the opportunity to raise their three children: George, Gregory, and Joyce. Over the span of their years of marriage until Don’s passing in 1975, they frequently enjoyed vacations in Groton Long Point in Connecticut.
In the early 1980’s, Betty purchased a beautiful ranch with lovely gardens on a lake in Wayne. There, she enjoyed hosting many parties for friends that she met in the various groups she was involved in. This was a perfect home for Betty as she had a great love for gardening and often collected flowers and plants wherever she went. She never saw a plant or flower she didn’t like and so her house sometimes looked like a jungle because she felt the need to save everyone. They were her babies! Betty passed that passion down to her daughter Joyce – a wise and fortunate thing since Joyce regularly rewarded her in later years by bringing fresh cut flowers on a weekly basis from her own gardens.
Some years after Donald’s passing, Betty met her longtime friend and companion Bill Tynan at a Parents Without Partners event. She appreciated a gentleman who knew how to dance and Bill was a great dancer. Together they danced for 30 years until his passing in 2005.
Betty was a member of Parents Without Partners for over thirty-five years where she served for a longtime as their president. Because of her dedication, her chapter of PWP Number 552 in Oakland is one of the few remaining chapters still operating.
Betty was a member of St. Albans Church in Oakland where she was active in the women’s club and, to no surprise, an important asset as a singer in the choir.
While everyone has a family history, Betty’s goes back on both sides of her family to some of the most prominent families in early America.
On her father Frank Benedict Cleland’s side Betty was related to George Morton, one of the first settlers of the Plymouth Plantation who arrived on the ship Ann which followed the Mayflower. A favorite family keepsake is a sampler crafted by her Great-Great-Great Aunt Laura Morton in 1806. Through her father’s side of the family she is also related to our country’s 8th president - President Martin Van Buren.
On her mother Elizabeth Octavia Cleland’s (nee Taliaferro) side, the Taliaferro family of Orange, VA, was one of the most prominent first families in Virginia. Through this side of her family, Betty was related to another one of our country’s presidents - President Zachary Taylor – our 12th president, as well as Senator James Piper Taliaferro and various others. In addition Betty’s grandfather Felix Taylor Taliaferro fought in the Civil War.
Although she never pursued it, Betty had the lineage to be a “Daughter of the American Revolution” on both sides of her family. Despite this distinctive position within America’s history, Betty was really a reserved and quiet woman and never one to boast. She would rather listen and enjoy the company of others, than speak of herself.
Above all, she cherished her family and was happiest being surrounded by them.
Surviving is her son Gregory of Hewitt and her daughter Joyce Hayter and husband William Delia of Pompton Plains; six grandchildren: Elizabeth Hayter, Kaitlin, Tara, and Kelly McKenzie, and Cherylyn and Dena Delia; and her brother Frank T. Cleland and wife Katherine of Lakeland, FL. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Donald W. McKenzie in 1975, her longtime companion Bill Tynan in 2005, her son George in 1962, and her grandson Edward Hayter in 2010.
Guestbook