Elizabeth “Betty” Christensen died March 30, 12 days before her 100th birthday. She was born in Collingdale, Penn., on April 11, 1915, and had been a resident of Newtown since 1953.

She was predeceased by her husband, Willard L. Christensen, who was warden of the Borough of Newtown at the time of his death in 1980.

Mrs Christensen is survived by her two nieces, Elaine Storlazzi, and her husband Dr J. Jordan Storlazzi, Jr, of Wilmington, Del., and Jeanne Reed of Clayton, Del. She is also survived by a grandniece and grandnephew, and their families. Betty is additionally survived by her “Chinese son” Tony Chuang and her “Asian daughter” Lek Crouch, as well as their respective families. Betty’s extended family also includes Jeffrey Doyle and his family of Ridgefield.

She attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art, which later became the University of the Arts. She was employed as a commercial artist at the A. Paul Lefton Advertising Agency, and also at McKee & Albright in Philadelphia.

When she and her husband moved to Connecticut she continued to freelance several accounts from the agency. Her attention quickly turned to fine art when she saw an exhibition of watercolors by students of Herb Olsen in Westport. Studying with him for two years, she was introduced to several national art organizations, where she began showing her work in New York City.

Mrs Christensen was a signature member of American Watercolor Society in New York; an honorary member of Allied Artists in New York City; a signature member of Hudson Valley Art Association, New England Watercolor Society, Connecticut Watercolor Society, New Haven Paint & Clay Club, and Kent Art Association. Locally, she was very active in the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) and exhibited widely up and down the East Coast.

Betty was also an original member of Walnut Hill Church in Bethel, which became her church family. Psalm 92:14 was one of her favorite verses, which she tried to live by.

For 15 years she was a volunteer at Danbury Hospital where she often painted large scenes for the enjoyment of the children in the Pediatrics Department. She also enjoyed delivering Meals On Wheels as a volunteer for more than 20 years, as well as volunteering at the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen in Danbury.

She was a lover of nature and enjoyed being out of doors. Her passion was working in her garden and skiing in the Alpines Regions of Europe, hiking, and painting on location. In her figure skating years, she was secretary of the International Figure Skating Club in Philadelphia.

There will be a celebration of Betty’s life at noon on Saturday April 11, at Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road in Bethel. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to FAITH Food Pantry, PO Box 53, Newtown CT 06470.

Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street in Newtown, is serving the family.