Elizabeth Ann Colkin passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Betty Ann was born October 8, 1946 in Throggs Neck, The Bronx. Her parents were Patrick and Kathleen (Magennis) Farrell of County Armagh, Northern Ireland. She was the 7th of 8 children raised in a household filled with a love of family and their Irish heritage. Betty graduated from Preston High School and Mercy College. She was a competitive Irish step dancer and teacher.

In 1969 she married Lawrence Colkin, with whom she spent 56 years crafting one of the greatest love stories of our time. Family was the cornerstone of Betty's life. She is predeceased by her beloved daughter, Nancy (Tsoubris), and is survived by her husband, Larry, and children Eileen Cuneo (Colin), Jerry Colkin (Rose-Ann), and Elizabeth Clarke (Edward). She cherished every minute spent with her 11 grandchildren; Teddy, Elizabeth, Liam, Emma, Ciara, Grace, Kathleen, Patrick, Nora, Ryan, and James.

Betty and Larry raised their family in Millerton, New York, where she launched her career of service to children and the underserved. Ultimately she rose to the position of Assistant Executive Director of Astor Head Start in Poughkeepsie. She retired in 2005 and she and Larry relocated to the village of Millbrook, New York.

Betty will be remembered for her ability to bring people together as they were drawn to her love and kindness. She treasured her relationships with friends from her childhood in the Bronx, her homes in Millerton and Millbrook, and her work at Astor. She and Larry attended Mass regularly at Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia and St. Joseph's Church in Millbrook. They could be found each morning enjoying breakfast with their cherished friends at the Millbrook Diner and on Fridays she could be found volunteering at Uncle Al's Thrift Shop.

She is survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law, Gene and Doris Farrell, Patrick and Jeanne Farrell, Lolie Farrell (John), and Ann Farrell (Jerry), and Virginia and Jack McKee and cousin-in-law Kathleen (McDonell) Farrell. She adored each and every one of her nieces and nephews and their children.

She is being met in heaven by a gathering of Irish souls, led by her daughter, Nancy, and parents Patrick and Kathleen Farrell. They will be joined by her departed siblings and in-laws Rosemary and Robert Steiner, John Farrell, Jerry Farrell, Robert Farrell, Eileen Farrell and Patrick Frawley, Ursula (Colkin) and Tom Quinn, and Patricia (Colkin) McBride, and her cousin, Owen Farrell.

Visitation for Betty will be held at Allen Funeral Home, 3270 Franklin Ave., Millbrook on Tuesday, January 6 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered from St. Joseph's Church, 15 North Ave., Millbrook on Wednesday, January 7 at 10 am. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Millbrook.
Memorial donations may be made in Betty's memory to Angels of Light or Sparrow's Nest.