Elizabeth M.“Betty” Azotea (née Marcille) passed away at the age of 92, just two days shy of her 93rd birthday. Born on July 21, 1933, in Whiting, Vermont, Betty was one of eight children raised by her French-Canadian parents, John Marcille and Gertrude (Currier) Marcille. For 65 years, she made her home in Saratoga Springs, New York, where she became a beloved and enduring presence in her community.

Betty and her husband, Ben A. Azotea, first met in upstate New York. After their wedding, they spent three years traveling between New York and Florida. Ben was employed as a chef at the Fontainebleau in Florida and worked with Jack -Cevertz before joining Bob Lee Sr. at the Wishing Well Restaurant, where they eventually established their family in Saratoga Springs, NY.

In her role as a waitress at the Wishing Well Restaurant, Betty worked hard to serve Ben’s distinctive culinary masterpieces in the dining room during a time when balancing four hot plates of food on your arms, with towels, was an essential skill, talent, and art. Together, they created a strong reputation for food and service that the Wishing Well is celebrated for today.

Betty had a wide array of hobbies and talents, such as knitting and crocheting, fishing, cooking, and gardening. One night, she knitted a hat for one of her grandchildren because the newborn was so large that standard hats wouldn’t fit him. She was adamant that he needed a hat to keep his head warm. Betty loved fishing for trout, bass, and bullhead in the many lakes and streams near her home in Saratoga Springs, often taking her children along. The fish she caught were usually prepared in a delightful Greek-Syrian style. A fantastic country cook, she was initially taught by her mother, and her culinary skills were later influenced by her husband, a chef who specialized in Filipino and Polynesian cuisine. She took pride in her flower garden, planting and maintaining various rose bushes and perennial flowers on the side of her house. For years, she also tended a vegetable garden, canning many tomatoes for winter use. Other canned goods included grape jelly made from the grapevines in her yard, bread and butter pickles, and pears from the tree in her garden.

Betty raised her four sons on a strong work ethic, strong family values, and a commitment to education. Once they were independent and she had time to herself, she decided to pursue higher education by obtaining a General Equivalency Development (GED) diploma in New York state.

In 1979, Betty embraced a spirited mid-life reinvention, becoming a cosmetologist. For many years, she was employed at a quaint shop on Phila Street in Saratoga Springs, serving under two different owners as the hairstylist for the town’s most distinguished women until her retirement.—another chapter of a life she lived fully and on her own terms.

A voracious reader, Betty delighted in sharing books with family and friends, passing along not just stories but the joy of losing oneself in a good one. She was fiercely loyal to her family and wore the role of matriarch as naturally as she wore anything—a role that was obvious to all who knew her. That watchful, caring presence extended well beyond her own walls; neighbors knew Betty kept a careful, loving eye over the neighborhood.

Those who knew her best were treated to her quick wit and humor, which had a way of catching people delightfully by surprise. Yet Betty also carried a calm, grounding spirit, and she offered encouragement in her own unmistakable way. She reminded those she loved that “You’re a long time dead and a short time living,” and that “Tomorrow’s another day” - gentle wisdom to keep the good times and the hard times alike in their proper perspective.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Ben A. Azotea, and by her son Richard. She is survived by her sons Peter of Saratoga Springs, James of Saratoga Springs, and Gary of Parma, Ohio; her eight grandchildren; and her five great-grandchildren, all of whom carry her spirit forward.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518-584-5373). Saturday, August 1st. Family and friends can pay their respects from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a Catholic ceremony beginning at noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to a charity of one’s choice.