Stories & Memories

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My mom could befriend a piece of concrete
My mom could befriend a piece of concrete. ArtPark in Lewiston is our local cultural center – a place to enjoy music, lectures, plays, and art of all sorts, including art installations created by resident artists each year. Betsy loved ArtPark. She frequently enjoyed live theatrical performances, musical concerts, dance, and the creation of visual, performance, and other experimental art, all set along the natural beauty of the Niagara Gorge and River. ArtPark is family and Betsy engaged in as many opportunities as possible to be with and bring family to ArtPark (including one summer when Jennifer was an artist-in-residence!). We often practiced the art of walking through the grounds to enjoy the many forms of installation art – birds along the river, the percussion garden, picnic table and four benches, striped painted parking lot, brick path, ArtEl, Emerald Grove, upside down mirror, sundial, vistas and views, and always a fun surprise or two. That’s where we all met Ruby. She was a mirrored and sequined lady in a colorful dress, who showed up at ArtPark one summer and sat in her chair in the midst of the summer mayhem. Distinctive, enticing, and approving of all the artistic antics around her, Ruby remained mysterious, quiet, cold, and impossible to know – a concrete sculpture bejeweled with all things shiny, including ruby-red lips and a lapful of broken mirrors. Limited communication and an unknown past did not stop Betsy. She opened herself to Ruby and all she represents. We walked to and visited Ruby in the forest many times during that summer – early 1980’s? At season’s end, the artist acknowledged that Ruby was not considered a permanent installation and thus, Ruby was about to be let go, cast out alone into the world. That is where Betsy stepped in to take their friendship to the next level by inviting Ruby home to live with her in Lewiston. No evidence remains as to how Betsy convinced whoever she did to go to ArtPark, likely in the dead of night, and utilize all efforts known to humankind to bring Ruby home. Of course, Betsy and crew were successful. Ruby became our silent host, our doorwoman, and our garden guard, stoically sitting outside the side door of our home in all weather, welcoming us and all visitors into our home. Betsy wasn’t satisfied just going to and participating in ArtPark – like family, she brought ArtPark home with her. Ruby remains a dear friend of the family and the Niagara Falls community-at-large, living comfortably at the front door of The Book Corner, a sparkling and mischievous welcome for all, like a smile from Betsy.
Nine-Wu Chant
I give my mother due credit and admiration for her many left-handed creative ways, including her method for keeping tabs on her children in our late 1960’s Hewitt Parkway neighborhood. Betsy did not know how to whistle nor did she opt to own one, and she certainly wasn’t a screamer. Nonetheless, she needed a method to get her three children home for dinner. So she invented The Nine-Wu chant. Betsy would step out the side door from the kitchen and while standing on the driveway, facing the large rectangular neighborhood beyond, she would loudly and quickly chant – Wu, Wu, Wu, Wu, Wu, Wu, Wu, Wu, Wu. Always 9 Wu’s, with the last one elongated as the note lowered. Anyone – man, woman, or child – and usually it was one of the neighbor kids – who heard the telltale, distinctive Nine-Wu chant would immediately alert the closest Morrow child that it was high time for us to go home for dinner. And we did, knowing that if we did, tomorrow we would again squeeze the most out of our neighborhood free time, awaiting the next Nine-Wu Chant.
Pickleball Buddy

We learned the game together and kept a pretty good pace. It was my pleasure getting to know Betsy while learning to play the game of pickleball. Since we were both tennis players, we were enthusiastic to succeed at the new racquet sport. The game of pickleball was shared with three members of Betsy’s family: Peter, Betsy and Tereza. It is with fondness and sadness that I express my condolences to The Family of Dear Betsy. My thoughts and prayers, Susan Gaffney
What a lady!

Betsy was a remarkable woman. She had so many wonderful accomplishments but none as great as her ability to tell a fantastic joke! I always searched her out at any function so she could share a joke or two. More often than not, they were a bit risqué! Betsy was a true delight. ~ Elizabeth Davis
Amazing Woman

Betsy was an amazing woman who had a great influence on me. Her life was full. Whether she was helping others or engaged in a fun activity she always had something going on to keep her busy. I enjoyed her company. She spoke her mind with what I thought of as “Betsyisms”, sharing a different outlook on life which I appreciated. I will miss her smile, her energy, tenacity and adventurous spirit. I will cherish the fond memories she gave me. Peace my friend…… Stacey Adams
Beloved WSM
Betsy has been in our life from the beginning of our life together. Affectionately known as ‘Wicked Step Mother’, she was anything but that. She celebrated all our very special life events with us starting with our wedding. She will be missed.
Best Grandbetsy the world ever had!
Grandbetsy may have been my dad’s step-mom but she was as much my grandma as my other two are. I have so many fond memories from my childhood with her and Granddaddy at their home on Lake Ontario! I could go on and on for ages but my favorite memories are the ones where she was teaching me something new like knitting, sewing, or playing piano. It’s hard to imagine visiting Niagara Falls and not getting one of her amazing hugs or hearing her jokes again. I will miss her immensely! Love you so much! ~ Kelsey (Diachun) Heistand