Obituary of Betsy J. (Coldsmith) McFarland

Betsy J. (Coldsmith) McFarland, 68, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, surrounded by her loved ones, at UPMC-Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer. Mrs. McFarland was born Nov. 9, 1948 in Mt. Pleasant, a daughter of the late John C. and Betty B. Coldsmith.She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant, where she had been active in a number of church-related activities over the years. Betsy was a 1966 graduate of the Mt. Pleasant Area High School. She attended the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh and California University of Pennsylvania. During her nearly five decades as a nurse, she worked in various supervisory positions at Excela Health-Frick Hospital and most recently served as Director of Nursing at the Hempfield Manor and Briarcliff Pavilion, from where she retired just prior to becoming ill. Betsy had also worked as a nurse for many years at the Mt. Pleasant Senior Citizen Center. Betsy loved being a nurse and caregiver, bringing comfort to the hearts and souls of her patients, while inspiring those who worked with her to become better professionals and even better people.Anyone who met Betsy was touched in some positive way through her gift of giving. She was generous, selfless and put others needs before her own, even until her last day. Heaven has received an incredible angel - one who will forever watch over us. Betsy's genuine and infectious smile will always be remembered by all those who had the pleasure and honor of knowing her. Betsy is survived by her brother, John Coldsmith and his wife, Dee of Oakdale, her sister, Bonnie B. Downs of Scottdale, and by her nephew, Ric Downs, whom she loved like a son, his wife, Sue, and their daughter, Madison, who was a source of endless pride and joy for Betsy. She is also survived by her nieces, Jen Russell and her husband Brett, Becky Crawford and her husband Ryan, her nephew, Chris Coldsmith and his wife Adrienne, her sister-in-law, Susan McFarland-Bandini and her husband, Dr. Bernard Bandini, and numerous great nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, Betsy was prededed in death by her beloved husband and Best Friend, Howell T. "Mac" McFarland, who died July 12, 2001, after a long illness. Throughout that time, Betsy was tirelessly devoted to him, serving as his fierce medical advocate, his unwavering source of encouragement and his endless source of hope, even on the darkest days. Family and friends will be received Wednesday from 6 to 8 PM and Thursday from 4 until 8 PM at the Galone-Caruso Funeral Home , 204 Eagle Street, Mount Pleasant. Funeral services for Betsy will be held Friday at 11:00 AM, in the funeral home, with the Rev. Donald Cook officiating. Interment will be in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. To offer an online condolence, please visit our website at: www.galone-carusofuneralhome.com