Elizabeth "Betty" Bonnes Gass of Ridley Park, died April 7, 2012 at Taylor Hospital.

Betty was born and raised in Ridley Park and a graduate of Ridley Park High School, Class of 1943. She was well known for her amazing artistic abilities and sewing skills.

In her early career, she designed children's dresses professionally. She also designed and created wedding and prom gowns for many girls in Ridley Park. After she retired from Mobil Oil, she helped her husband operate his boat upholstery business, "Ed Gass Boat Service".

In her later years, she returned to her artistic talents, favoring water-colors. Her paintings were displayed in many art shows sponsored by the School House Senior Center and on the art wall at Taylor Hospital.

Betty was also a volunteer at Taylor Hospital for many years. Most recently, Betty lived at the residence at Glen Riddle in Media, where she had many friends and continued to practice her painting as well. Betty was a lifetime member of The Church of St. Madeline in Ridley Park. Her love for animals inspired her children and grandchildren to rescue many lost of abandoned dogs and cats.

She was wife of the late Edward J. Gass who died in 2000, who she married in 1948, daughter of the late John M. and Martha E. Durkin Bonnes and sister of the late Marian Bonnes Worgul, John, Joseph and Frank Bonnes.

Survivors: mother of Martha Sweeney (John), Elaine Gass (Russell), Stephen Gass (Vida) and Teresa Lange (Doug), sister of Edward Bonnes, grandmother of Monica, Torin and Drew Sweeney, Michael Zambrano, Amanda, Evonne, Kira and Jordan Lange, Stephanie and Elena Gass, Carolyn Pearcy Tate, Catherine Pearcy Pounds and Casey Pearcy, great-grandmother of Kaelyn, Jay and Stephen Pounds.

Funeral Mass: 10 AM Friday at The Church of St. Madeline, Penn St. and Morton Ave., Ridley Park

Visitation: 9 to 9:45 AM Friday at the church

Burial: St. Michael's Cemetery.

Memorial Gifts: may be made to Northeast Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 52395, Philadelphia, PA 19115 (www.nar.rescuegroups.org) or Bird Treatment and Learning Center, 6132 Nielson Way, Anchorage, AK 99518.