Elizabeth “Betsy” Godard Bunn, 88, of Newton, died on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1938, Betsy was the daughter of the late James and Aura (Holton) Godard. She graduated from Tulane
University and earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to teach English at Gettysburg College and Adelphi University.

Betsy lived in Newton for 56 years, and her Auburndale neighborhood meant the world to her.

After raising her three sons, Betsy became a hospice volunteer through the Church of the Good Shepherd in Newton, and hospice became her life’s work. She was instrumental in establishing the first inpatient unit for the Hospice of Cambridge, where she served as director of volunteers. She finished her career directing Life Raft, a support group at Harvard University for faculty, staff, and students facing terminal illness or the death of someone in their family.

Betsy was quick-witted and deeply kind. She completed her first marathon at 40 when few women ran at that level. She loved music of every kind, from opera to folk, and that love stayed with her almost to the end. Long after she had lost people’s names and faces, she could still sing all four verses of a hymn she had last heard as a child.

A longtime member of Emmanuel Church in Boston, she served as the parish’s Senior Warden.

Betsy is survived by her husband of 64 years, Frank; her sons, George, Ted, and Andrew; and her five grandsons, Franklin, John, Samuel, Eli, and Micah, on whom she doted.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m. at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, Boston, with a reception to follow in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Betsy’s memory may be made to Emmanuel Church. 

The family is grateful to the entire staff of Lasell Village for their care of Betsy.