Alice Elizabeth Tome

Alice Elizabeth “Betsy” Tome of Rising Sun passed away on Tuesday, December 3 in Christiana Hospital. She was 81.

Betsy was born in Downingtown, Pa. on October 14, 1943, a daughter of the late Lester Onyx Poole and Mary Coates Poole. She was a Birthright Quaker.

She grew up in Oxford, Pa. but considered Cecil County her home.

Betsy led tours for school children on Mt. Ararat Farms for many years. She also cleaned houses and assisted the aged. At the age of 40, after raising her family, she went back to school and fulfilled her dream of becoming an LPN. She worked at Calvert Manor as a charge nurse, was a visiting nurse, and worked in physicians’ offices before retiring from her nursing career at age 78.

Over the years, she volunteered in the community with scouts, school PTA, and was a Sunday School Teacher at Hopewell Church. After retiring, she served as a hospitality guide at the Map Turtle House in Port Deposit. She was also an APWGAD, providing school supplies, weekend meals, and Christmas to Cecil County’s neediest children.

She was active at Mason Dixon American Legion Post 194 where she could be found with sisters, Nancy and Jane, enjoying a cocktail and the company of many friends. She was also a gourmet home cook who collected many ribbons for her jams and jellies at the Cecil County Fair.

She is survived by her children; Kelli and companion Billy Pierce, R. Wayne Tome Jr. and wife Sabrina, and Lisa Tome and husband, Bobby Holmes. She is also survived by her grandchildren; R. Wayne Tome, III, Jay and Joey Guidash, Josh Tome, Alexis Jones, and Isabelle Moravec and great grandchildren Madison, Max, and Nicholas, her sisters, Nancy Poole Allaband of Nottingham, Pa. and Mary Jane Krimmer and husband, Rich of Oxford, a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and other extended family which she cherished. She also adored her cat, Pussycat, who had formerly lived at a neighbor’s, visited Betsy’s house once and never left. She also enjoyed a 70 year friendship with close friend, Joyce Patrick.

Her parents and brothers Donald Poole and Robert Poole, and longtime companion, John Kyte, died before her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 15 at Tome’s Landing Condos Community Room . 600 Rowland Drive, Port Deposit, 21904 beginning at 1 p.m. All are welcome to remember her well lived life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cecil College Nursing Scholarships in c/o of Lee A. Patterson and Son Funeral Home P.O. Box 766 Perryville, Md. 21903.