Obituary: Betty Umbel
Betty Umbel
PORTLAND – Betty Umbel, of Mackworth Street, died Aug. 6, 2026, surrounded by loved ones at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. She was 95 years old.
Betty was born on Dec. 2, 1930 in Norfolk, Va. to William A. Huey and Mabel Consolvo Huey. Although an only child raised during the Depression she experienced life with a large extended family as her mother was the eldest of 13 children. Betty was a sixth generation American. At Granby High School where she graduated, Betty was a singer in the Comet Chorus and learned to tap dance among other educational pursuits.
Betty met and married Lt. j.g. Richard “Dick” Umbel in 1949 Norfolk, Va. where Dick was stationed. Together they raised four children and had many life adventures together. An outstanding Navy wife, mother, grandmother, niece and friend to many, Betty had a robust spirit for life. A successful real estate broker on Long Island, N.Y. she also owned her own antique store. After Dick retired from the Navy they made their home in Bay Shore, N.Y. where they lived for many years until both retired and moved to Marshall, Va. to be close to children and grandchildren and finally to Portland in 1998 once again to be near children and grandchildren. Betty and Dick traveled throughout the U.S., Europe and South America, always making friends along the way!
As a Master Gardener, past president of the Longfellow Garden Club and dedicated volunteer at the Longfellow Garden and YMCA, she loved all gardens both large and small!
Betty was strong and independent, felt strongly about right and wrong, had a great sense of humor, biting wit, phenomenal memory, a great storyteller and you knew her opinions on many subjects. Behind this sometimes strong exterior was a beautiful quality of spirit, kindness and caring for others. Theater, music, reading mysteries, biographies and history books, watching Jeopardy nightly, gardening, enjoying spirited conversations and attending shows at her son William’s “Bill” music venues were favored activities. Betty was proudly a lifelong Democrat. Betty felt she had been blessed with a long life, wonderful family, friends and many life adventures. As she said “an extraordinary, ordinary life.”
Betty is survived by her children, Richard Jr. (Ruth) of Marshall, Va., Linda Umbel of Portland, Marjorie Fricano (Glenn) of Islip, N.Y. and Bill Umbel (Jeanne Hulit) of Falmouth; her grandchildren, Montana Raynor, Dakota Umbel, Grant Gerber, Devin Fricano, Marenn Cole and Tim Fricano; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Richard Sr.; granddaughter, Brooke Umbel; great-grandson, Ian Fricano; and her beloved Aunt Betty Consolvo who was like a sister to her.
Betty called the shots right until the end of her life and our family will miss her love and appreciation for each of us every day.
Friends and family are invited to a time of visitation Thursday Sept. 17 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home in Portland. A private burial on Friday Sept. 18 will take place at Evergreen Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the kind, dedicated care that Betty received at the Osher Inn at the Cedars in Portland where she made new and renewed old friendships the last six months of her life.
Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to leave condolences for the Umbel family and share a memory of Betty.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in memory of Betty Umbel
at one of the following:
Preble Street
http://www.preblestreet.org/donate/
Portland Public Library
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