During World War II, I worked in a defense factory and was a volunteer in many war-related fundraising activities. When the war ended I married Robert Betts and moved to a suburb of New York City.

While raising my three children, my husband and I welcomed into our home a niece and four nephews who had lost their parents. Along with being the wife of a successful advertising executive, participating in the PTA and other school events, I was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and chaired the publicity committee of the New York area Girl Scout Council. I also did volunteer work for the Mt. Kisco Boy's Club and Northern Westchester Hospital. I stayed active in the music world and was principal soloist at the Mt. Kisco Presbyterian Church.

I went back to school and earned a degree from the New York School of Design. In 1964, I opened a fabric shop in the town of Chappaqua and enjoyed watching it grow into a successful business. In 1978 I sold my share of the shop and moved to New York City where I worked as a volunteer in the Bureau of Housing. I was a member of an artists' studio, participating in shows and eventually selling my art in New York and Wyoming.

The desire to record my life's journey of discovery led me to purchase a computer which opened up another new world - writing. After 9/11 I moved to Norwalk, Connecticut where I still reside in a 1920's English cottage, my "house of sunshine". Shadows in My House of Sunshine, my memoirs, was published in May, 2007. I am currently working on my second book, a novel.