In Loving Memory of

Betty Jane (Harris) Epple

April 11, 1931 – June 12, 2026

Betty Jane Epple, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mentor, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026, in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, surrounded by the family she loved so dearly. She was 95 years old.

Born on April 11, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey, Betty was the daughter of William and Catherine Harris. Blessed with the rich heritage of her father's Cherokee ancestry and her mother's enduring Irish traditions, she carried forward the finest qualities of both: resilience, faith, compassion, curiosity, and an unwavering appreciation for life's blessings. Throughout her remarkable ninety-five years, Betty embraced each season of life with gratitude, grace, and a genuine desire to uplift those around her.

As a young woman, Betty worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone Company—fondly known as "Ma Bell." Long before instant communication became commonplace, she was one of the friendly voices connecting people across distances, carefully plugging calls into the switchboard and helping bring families, friends, and communities together. It was fitting work for someone who would spend the rest of her life creating connections wherever she went.

Betty was the devoted wife of Harry Epple, her beloved husband and partner of seventy-five years. Together for eighty years, theirs was a love story that began in 1946 while playing shuffleboard. When Harry asked Betty, "Would you like to be my partner?" Neither could have known that a simple question would mark the beginning of a lifelong partnership filled with devotion, laughter, perseverance, and unwavering love.

Together, Betty and Harry built a family grounded in faith, kindness, generosity, and enduring values. Betty dedicated herself wholeheartedly to raising their two children, Michael and Colleen, and later embraced the joy of becoming a grandmother to Kathleen, Allison, and Kayla, and a cherished great-grandmother (affectionately known as “GG”) to Brandon, who brought her immense joy in her later years. She was their greatest champion and biggest cheerleader, faithfully attending acting performances, singing recitals, soccer games, fencing tournaments, ballet productions, and Irish dancing competitions. No matter the occasion, her radiant smile and enthusiastic applause could always be found in the audience.

As her granddaughters matured, Betty became much more than a loving grandmother. She became a trusted advisor, a source of wisdom, courage, and encouragement whose counsel helped guide them through life's challenges and celebrations alike. Her belief in them became part of the foundation upon which they built their own lives.

Betty's curiosity about the world inspired extensive travels throughout Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, Canada, Ireland, and California. Each journey deepened her appreciation for different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. She delighted in meeting new people and discovering the common threads that unite humanity. Her travels reflected the openness of her spirit and her enduring belief that every person has something valuable to teach us.

Professionally, Betty enjoyed a distinguished fifteen-year career with Dun & Bradstreet, where she served as a Human Resources CSR Manager. Her intelligence, warmth, and exceptional ability to connect with others earned her the admiration of colleagues and those she mentored. Yet her commitment to helping people extended far beyond her professional responsibilities.

Determined to continue learning throughout her life, Betty earned a certification in English as a Second Language and graduated from Middlesex County College. She used her education not for personal gain but as a means of service, helping countless students and professionals gain confidence in their communication skills. Among them was a pharmacologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who had been asked to deliver a professional seminar despite speaking only limited English. Through Betty's patient guidance, encouragement, and unwavering belief in his abilities, he successfully developed the confidence and skills needed to present before his peers. True to her generous nature, Betty never accepted payment. She believed deeply that knowledge was a gift meant to be shared freely.

Faith stood at the very center of Betty's life. A devoted servant of God, she generously shared her time, talents, and leadership with numerous church communities throughout the decades. During the 1960s, she was an active member of St. Bartholomew's Church in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where she chaired the annual family carnival fundraisers. After moving from Fanwood to Warren in the 1970s, she became one of the founding members of Our Lady of the Mount Church, serving as Director of Religious Education, teaching CCD, mentoring families, organizing parish initiatives, and helping shape the parish into the vibrant community it remains today.

Later, Betty became a devoted member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Martinsville, where generations of her family established deep roots. In recent years, she found particular joy in hosting teenagers from St. James Parish in Basking Ridge and facilitating the BOLD (Becoming Our Lord's Disciples) program. The young people she mentored adored her honesty, authenticity, and wisdom. Even across generations, Betty possessed a rare gift for making others feel seen, valued, and loved.

Her faith never wavered. Only weeks before her passing, she participated in an interview discussing death and the promise of eternal life. When asked her thoughts about dying, she responded with characteristic optimism and conviction: "If this lifetime was so fulfilling, I can't wait to see what Jesus has waiting for me up ahead."

That hopeful spirit defined her life. She often embraced Christ's words, "Be not afraid," and carried that assurance with her until the very end. For Betty, faith was not merely something she practiced—it was the lens through which she viewed every blessing, challenge, and opportunity.

An avid reader and lifelong learner, Betty filled her home with books devoted to spirituality, gratitude, personal growth, and the transformative power of positive thinking. Her treasured library reflected her lifelong pursuit of wisdom and included works by Joyce Meyer, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, Mahatma Gandhi, Deepak Chopra, and Sarah Young. Yet what made these books especially meaningful were the traces of Betty herself found throughout their pages—highlighted passages, handwritten reflections, carefully placed notes, and thoughtful observations.

To read one of Betty's books was to encounter her mind at work and her heart in conversation. Through those margins, future generations will continue to discover her wisdom, optimism, and enduring faith.

Betty also possessed an extraordinary gift with words. An eloquent speaker, accomplished storyteller, and gifted conversationalist, she had a remarkable ability to inspire, encourage, and connect. Family and friends will fondly remember her as a formidable—and often undefeated—Scrabble champion whose love of language was matched only by her quick wit and joyful spirit.

Her legendary "gift of gab" meant that no encounter was ever too brief for meaningful conversation. Whether speaking with a neighbor, a grocery clerk, a mail carrier, or a lifelong friend, Betty genuinely cared about people. Yet her greatest gift may have been her ability to listen. She listened with patience, empathy, and wisdom, offering thoughtful guidance that left others feeling understood and supported.

Betty's life was marked not by extraordinary achievements alone, but by the countless ordinary moments she transformed into something extraordinary through her presence. She possessed the rare ability to make people feel important, to find joy in everyday experiences, and to remind others of the goodness that exists in the world.

Betty is survived by her devoted husband, Harry Epple of Basking Ridge; her son, Michael Epple and his wife, Colleen Del Re; her daughter, Colleen Epple Pine and her husband, William Pandos; her granddaughters, Kathleen Adkisson (née Pine) and her husband, Spencer Adkisson, Allison Pine, Kayla Epple; her cherished great-grandson, Brandon Adkisson, and her brother William (Bill) Harris.

She was predeceased by her parents, William and Catherine Harris; her sisters, Jean Beyer and Maureen (Renee) La Para; and her infant child, Kathleen Epple.

Family and friends are invited to attend a viewing on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in East Hanover, New Jersey, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Betty's life was a magnificent testament to faith, gratitude, service, optimism, and love. She leaves behind a legacy not measured in accomplishments alone, but in the countless lives she strengthened, encouraged, and enriched. She taught those around her to treasure life, cherish one another, seek joy in simple moments, and recognize the blessings hidden within each day.

She understood that togetherness creates memories that endure long after the moment has passed, and that ordinary days often become the most treasured chapters of a life well lived. Few people are blessed to leave fingerprints on so many lives across so many generations, but Betty did so with remarkable grace and joy. 

As Betty so often said with a smile, "Didn't we have fun?"

And indeed, because of her, we did.

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In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Betty's memory to consider making a donation to a charity or cause that is meaningful to them. Betty believed deeply in helping others, and supporting a worthy cause would be a fitting tribute to her generous spirit.