Obituary of Elizabeth Tyler

Betsy (Elizabeth) Oakes Tyler, died suddenly on June 16, while doing what she loved, cat rescue. She was born on February 21, 1961, at Ellis Hospital, and was raised in the Rochester area. She received her bachelor's degree at Hobart & William Smith College and later earned her Master's in Occupational Therapy at NYU as well as a graduate Social Work Degree at Hunter College. For many years she lived in NYC where she met and married her husband Kevin O'Connor and they had their beloved daughter, Maggie. The family relocated to Niskayuna, NY where she resided until her death. Betsy led an active and compassionate life. For the past two decades she was a psychotherapist at Ellis Mental Health Clinic. She had a lifelong passion for dance, excelling at ballet and later all styles of ballroom dance. She was an enthusiastic traveler, swimmer, bicyclist and kayaker. She devoted her life in care for others. Betsy's legacy is one of kindness, love and dedication. She has a huge circle of friends from the neighborhood, the dance community, the cat rescue community and wider world. She is survived by her husband and daughter, her surviving siblings, John (Heide) Harwood of Brighton UK, Suzanne Jaquin of Naples, NY and Robert Tyler of Naples, NY. She is predeceased by her parents, Virginia Oakes Tyler and Winfield W. Tyler, as well as her sister, Peg Tyler. There will be a wake on Friday, June 21 at Daly Funeral Home, 242 McClellan Street, Schenectady from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 6 at 1:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady, 1221 Wendell Avenue, Schenectady. Flowers are welcome. Memorial contributions in her name will be received at Kitten Angels at kittenangels.org.