Betty Cartwright DiSunno, 89

Betty Cartwright DiSunno of Amagansett died at the age of 89 on January 5, 2018.

While Betty grew up in East Hampton, she had ties to Sag Harbor, where she spent much of her youth with her grandmother and in Shelter Island, where her grandfather was a bayman and her great grandfather was the highway superintendent when there were horse and buggies.

During WWII she was employed at the Bulova Watch factory, assembling timing devices for military munitions. Shortly after the war, she met Joseph DiSunno, a returning vet from Amagansett. They married in 1946 and raised six children.

DiSunno loved searching the woods for old bottles and combing the sand for beach glass and treasures. Often, she brought her friends and children and, over time, her grandchildren on her gathering adventures. Her children and nieces recall when she would take them to Albert’s Landing and the East Hampton Nature Trail. She would play hide and seek with the neighborhood children and give them old blankets so they could make tents.

DiSunno had a special way with animals. They seemed to sense that she would take care of them. One time she coaxed a runaway parakeet out of a tree and brought it home. She spent hours teaching it to speak. “Herbie” could mimic her perfectly, speaking over 100 words and whistled to the tune of P.C. Richards.

She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the Amagansett American Legion Post 413.

She is best remembered for her beautiful smile, her infectious laugh, and for the love of her family and friends. DiSunno always put herself second. She shined the most when her family or friends were in need.

Shirley Anderson, her childhood friend, Elaine Jones, and Mary Curles her lifelong friends, were evident in her life and celebrated her passing in January. Marrying into the DiSunno family, Betty was the last survivor of the second generation of DiSunnos.

She is survived by her daughters Lynn DiSunno and Marie Lombardi of East Hampton and Denise DiSunno of Sebastian, Florida and her sons Joseph and James DiSunno of East Hampton; six grandchildren, and one great grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph and her son Leonard DiSunno.

Because of her love of children and animals, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to St Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, 228 W. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY 11946.

A celebration of her life will be held at Yardley Pino Funeral Home, 94 Pantigo Road, East Hampton on Saturday, April 7, from 10 AM to 12 PM with a graveside memorial service to follow at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, 194 Cedar Street, East Hampton.