Died peacefully, surrounded by friends and family, at home on August 21, 2021 from brain cancer.

Born Feb 16, 1949 – Betty Ruth Halstead, Visalia, CA to Timothy H. Halstead, and Mary R. Vetter Halstead.  Baptized in 1949 and confirmed in 1962 – St. Mary's Church, Visalia.  Graduated from George McCann Memorial Elementary School, Mt. Whitney H.S (1967), College of Sequoias, and California State University at San Jose (1972).

Married for 50 years, to Bruce Newnan, Visalia– 9/5/70

Survived by husband, Bruce, sons Christopher Newnan of Green Mountain Falls, CO, Ryan Newnan, San Jose, CA and daughter Caroline Papadopoulos of San Jose, CA, 7 grandchildren, and brother Bob Halstead of Visalia.

Member of St. Clare Church, Santa Clara, Institute for Leadership in Ministry graduate, Environment and Liturgy committees, Junior League of San Jose, Past President of the Board of Volunteer Exchange, San Jose, and PEO sorority.

Longtime resident (40 years) of the Shasta/ Hanchett Park Neighborhood Association.

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, auntie, Godmother, friend, and volunteer. Raising and educating her children was especially important to her as she originally aimed to become a teacher out of college, but instead devoted her time to her own children.  Betty served as one of the school's room mother for most of the 17 years while her children were attending St. Clare's School.  Afterward, she completed the newly created Institute for Leadership in Ministry program with the Diocese of San Jose and served on the liturgy committee for several years.

Betty loved volunteering, beginning with roles at St. Clare's first and developed honed leadership skills in the Junior League of San Jose and as President of the Board for the Volunteer Exchange of Santa Clara Valley.  She held leadership positions within the Junior League of San Jose that focused on advocacy and selfless volunteerism.  Betty loved being with her colleagues doing trainings covering timely and serious topics, she always incorporated an element of fun and humor.  While President of the Board for The Volunteer Exchange she developed and managed a successful annual fundraising drive for many non-profit organizations in the Bay Area during the decade "The Human Race" ran.  With her unmatched volunteer resume, Betty was recognized as one of the "Top 10" volunteers of 1999 by San Jose Magazine.  When asked why do you do it.  Her answer was "Non-profits need to build community and The Human Race does just that."

Betty and Bruce enjoyed traveling together and spent many anniversaries in Yosemite at The Ahwahnee in September where they spent their honeymoon in 1970.

Betty's love of traveling began with her Foreign Exchange student experience associated with the Lions Club in 1969 where she spent the summer in Japan living with three families.  These families stayed connected with Betty and Bruce through visits to/from Japan of extended and generational family members.  These family members often referred to Betty as "Mom" as a loving remembrance of the love she provided to all visitors.  With her interest in Geography, she loved to explore her world by setting up walking tours for various trips in the US, Canada, and especially Northern Europe.  Her Alaskan cruise was an extra special trip.  The highlights of her trips over the past 3 years were to Poland, Austria, Italy, and France.  She loved living for each day within the culture of foreign lands including the geography and people living there.  It sparked her curiosity and she loved experiencing in the regions' culture.  On her last trip, it was a delight for her to travel with her childhood best friend and family in Europe.  She particularly enjoyed greeting her daughter and granddaughter at the same Paris train station that she had previously embarked in 1975 and 1980.

Betty loved art, especially the European Masters and enjoyed going to the major art galleries in the US and Europe.  On a recent trip, she was fortunate to see Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Man at Louvre.  She also enjoyed old European architecture including Roman ruins in Italy, France, and England and loved the details of the construction and materials used.

Betty was a wonderful cook and created custom wedding cakes with her dear friend, for many years.  Her decorating skills were superb and admired by all.  The cakes were fresher and provided an artistry that competing commercial offerings couldn't match.

Family was especially central to her life with birthdays, baptisms, and weddings held at her home in San Jose.  Hosting family dinners for 20 to over 100 guests were special and easy for her with her natural organizational and planning skills.  Even during the last 3 months of her life she hosted a wedding and several family dinners until her brain cancer advanced.

Betty loved her family, church, close friends, art, music, and volunteering.  Cards, letters and phone calls during her brief illness attest how she loved being with friends and family and how she would light up the room with her subtle humor, wit, and charm to all who knew her.  Even at the end, in the final moments, she expressed the love for all in her farewell breath.  She will be deeply missed by everyone.

The family will host a Rosary, followed by her funeral mass via zoom on September 11, 2021.  If you would like to attend, the Rosary will start at 9am followed by the mass at 10am.  Please feel invited to join at either time.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82743226822?pwd=b3M4cFJxUHFnZnpuU3kyWW8vNzg0QT09

Meeting ID: 827 4322 6822,

Passcode: 1