- Date Of Birth: March 31, 1942
- Date Of Death: December 9, 2021
- State: Utah
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she will have music wherever she goes – caption for the photograph of Betsey Jane Davis in the Guilderland New York High School yearbook 1961. She loved to sing, she loved to dance, she loved music in any and every shape or form. She played varsity basketball and field hockey. That October, Betsey attended a dance where freshmen at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could meet young ladies from 4 neighboring colleges. Her date, selected based on height, was Orest Gogosha. During a perfect evening (a wonderful orchestra, tasty punch, the smell of autumn leaves), Betsey learned he fished, hiked, played tennis poorly, had 2 left feet, sang like a crow, and planned to join the Air Force. On their 3rd date he took her to a professional orchestra concert, the next week she caught her 1st fish, a month later he brought the athlete home from skiing in a full-leg cast. They dated through college, he proposed, she accepted, and they planned their life together. Different people, they agreed on the important things: Little importance to wealth, devotion to the Catholic faith, raising children as good citizens, and unwavering commitment to each other. Betsey got rings on her fingers but bells on toes proved difficult. She settled for wind chimes. She had music wherever she went. She sang in church and community choirs in Albany, NY, San Bernardino, CA; Lexington, MA; Albuquerque, NM; Montgomery, AL; Edwards AFB, CA; Ogden, UT; Redlands, CA, West Stockbridge, MA, Pottstown, PA; and finally, here with the St. Rose of Lima choir and the Wasatch Master chorale. She met her objectives: on military pay, no wealth was easy; she found Catholic Churches everywhere, she bore 6 children, Oksana, Cassandra, Tanya, Stefan, and Katrina, who are here, and her Little Angel Andy whom she has left us to join. She was proud of them till she last closed her eyes They blessed her with 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. She stayed close to her sister Caroline and brother Wilber and visited with them regularly. She and Orest stayed in love, deep and strong, that only grew with time. Betsey has gone back to God who shared her with us. She leaves behind comforting memories as only a truly loving person like she could create. It’s said there is place in heaven just for lovers. If so, she is waiting there patiently to welcome us when our time comes.
