On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Elizabeth Gustin Basil, a true lady, breathed her soul into God’s embrace, surrounded by her family. She was 92.
Betty was born in New Britain, CT on July 19, 1928 to Charles T. Gustin and Susie N. Gustin. Growing up during the Great Depression, she developed a deep compassion for those less fortunate. She was the daughter of Lebanese immigrants, who had a strong sense of family, and had a large extended family, who always looked after one another. From humble beginnings, Betty and her three siblings, Joseph J. Gustin (late of Newington), George P. Gustin (late of Avon), and Dr. Marie S. Gustin of New Britain, all became leaders and pillars of their communities.
After graduating from New Britain High School in 1946, Betty went to work at the Internal Revenue Service in Hartford. In a short period of time, she ascended to Executive Assistant to the Regional Director.
Betty married her husband, A. Fred Basil in 1950, after what she described as “an ideal courtship.” She was a devoted wife for 60 years until his death, and the people who knew them considered him to be the luckiest man in the world.
In the late 1960s, Betty returned to work at a West Hartford insurance agency, and quickly became an insurance agent. Within 10 years she bought the agency, which she ran successfully until her retirement.
Always wanting to help others, Betty was a member, and ultimately a leader, of numerous community organizations. Among these were: The Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce (Director); The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce (Director and first female President); New Britain General Hospital (Corporator); St. Joseph College (Chairman of Corporate Giving); The West Hartford Rotary Club (President and Director); the St. Thomas the Apostle Women’s Association (President and Director); the Hartford Club, and the Wampanoag Country Club Women’s Association (Director).
In recognition of her consistently outstanding service, Betty was honored with many awards, among these: The West Hartford Volunteer of the Year; The Noah Webster Award; The Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce Achievement Award; a Citation by the State of Connecticut General Assembly; a three-time Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow; and in 2019, an honorary degree from the University of St. Joseph was awarded in recognition of her long-standing support of the University.
A delightful combination of Emily Post and Erma Bombeck, Betty connected with each person she met; and when you were with her, you felt like you were the most important person in the world. She treated everyone with kindness, and in a way that made one aspire to be better. In this way she became iconic both in her family and throughout her community.
Betty leaves behind three adoring children: Cynthia Basil Howard and her husband Michael J. Howard of West Hartford; Atty. Charles F. Basil and his wife Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil of West Hartford; and Marianne Basil Sawicki and her husband Robert J. Sawicki of Avon. She also leaves the second half of the “Gustin Girls,” her loving sister, Dr. Marie S. Gustin, of New Britain; six granddaughters (her pride and her joy): Atty. Elizabeth Howard Small and her husband Atty. Jonathan Small, Katherine Smith and her husband Atty. Edward Smith, Olivia Basil and her partner Addison Bakken, Atty. Emily Sawicki, Stephanie Sawicki and Natalie Sawicki; four great-grandchildren: Anna Pax Small, Simone Small, Betty Smith and George Smith; and five nieces and their families, all of whom she loved dearly.
The family gives special thanks to Jadwiga Sankton and Jolanta Malinowska who were her devoted caregivers and companions.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, (May 26) from 4-7p.m. at the Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, (May 27) at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. Burial will follow in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield at the Basil Monument of Our Lady of Lebanon. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools, 467 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com