Evetta Biviano

Evetta B. “Betty” Biviano, 97, a longtime resident of Norwich, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 31, 2017 at Chenango Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility.

Born May 6, 1920, in Oriskany Falls, NY, Betty was the daughter of William and Beatrice (Kelly) Reihl. She was the oldest of 15 children. After living most of her early years in Oriskany Falls, Betty moved to Norwich in 1942. She worked for General Laboratory Associates (GLA), Norwich Shoe Co., Berglas Manufacturing Co., and also cleaned homes for several families in the area.

On October 13, 1949, in Norwich, Betty married the love of her life, John J. “Shine” Biviano, who died in 1993.

Betty very much enjoyed attending family reunions and visiting with members of her family. She spent a great deal of time later in life with the family of her beloved niece, Sandy (Richard) Howard, of Oxford, and lived with the Howard family for a time. Sandy’s daughter, Krissy Christian, of Oxford, and Betty’s niece, Cindy Reihl, of Norwich, also helped care for Betty over the past several years, and Betty was quite fond of taking rides with Krissy and Cindy around town and during the holidays, and enjoying their company during their visits to the nursing home. Betty also had a special place in her heart for her grand-nephew Richard Howard Jr., and his wife, Crissy, and their children, Emily, and Erin, as well as Krissy’s husband, Bill Christian, and their children Josh and Justin. She was also especially close to her great-nieces Desiree and Melanie Fuller, and their daughter Ryker, and enjoyed Keith Tompkins’ company as well.

When not with family, Betty quite enjoyed playing bingo and betting on horse races. Because Betty never drove or cared to obtain a driver’s license, in her earlier years she was known for always walking to wherever she needed to go.

Betty is also survived by her sisters, Kay Drawdy, S. Jean Loomis, Bernice Whispell, and Beatrice Heath, all of Georgia, her brother Ronald Reihl, of Tennessee, and several other nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters Corrine Hagen, Carlene Snyder, and Marlene Davis, and her brothers Charles, Leonard, Keith, Robert, Carl, and Billy, and her dearest niece Sandy Howard.

Funeral services for Betty will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at the Wilson Funeral Home where Rev. Nancy Hale, pastor, Broad Street United Methodist Church, will officiate. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will immediate follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Contributions in Betty’s memory may be made to the Activities Fund at Chenango Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility, 179 N. Broad St., Norwich. NY 13815.