Elizabeth Blampied Mckeen

Elizabeth B. McKeen, 91, Ithaca, passed away peacefully Friday, December 22, 2017 at Oak Hill Manor.

Betty was born to the late Frederick and Evelyn Blanpied in Hoboken, NJ. She was raised in Ridgewood, NJ, and graduated from Ridgewood High School. She graduated with a degree in Music Education from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1948, and taught vocal music in the public schools in Mahwah, NJ and then Blue Bell, PA. In 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, William B. McKeen.

She worked in the Office of Alumni Relations at McGill University, in Montreal, QC, where William completed medical school. They returned to suburban Philadelphia where she devoted herself to raising her family. In 1964 William completed residency in Philadelphia, PA, and the family moved to Ithaca, eventually building their dream home on Perry City Rd., where she enjoyed entertaining friends, family and visitors for many years.

Always an avid walker, Betty could often be seen traversing paths around her home, and later Longview, where she lived from 2007 until October of this year. She was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, P.E.O., and the Oregon Trail Society.

Betty loved learning about local history, particularly as it related to early westward expansion and her church. Her research took her across the Oregon Trail four times, stopping at libraries and historical museums along the way. She produced an eight-episode, Pegasys-award-winning documentary about her research for the local cable access channel, and enjoyed speaking about the topic to interested groups in the community.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband William, brother David Blanpied, and grandson Colin Ross Rohm. Survivors include her two daughters, Christina (Dale) Rohm of Stevens Point, WI, and Laurie of Oneonta, NY, her grandson Garrick Rohm of Madison, WI, sister-in-law Eloise Blanpied of Chestertown, MD, a niece and two nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1PM Thursday, January 4th, at the First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, with a reception following. The Rev. Kirianne Weaver Riehl will preside. Burial will be in the family plot in Leith, Ontario at a later date. Bangs Funeral Home is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the church or a charity of your choice.

Thursday, January 04, 2018 1:00 PM

Presbyterian Church 315 N. Cayuga St. Ithaca, NY 14850