Clara ‘Betty’ Elizabeth Ponton, devoted to family

Clara "Betty" Elizabeth (Vermeule) Ponton, 84, of South Bethany, passed away Wednesday, May 31, 2017. She was born Sept. 14, 1932, in Washington D.C., daughter of the late Harold and Gertrude Vermeule.

Mrs. Ponton was a homemaker, taking great pride in the raising of her family. She found a wonderful creative outlet as an artist, and was a devout parishioner of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bethany Beach. Her most cherished moments, however, were those spent with her adored family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and she will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Ponton was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Edward Ponton. She is survived by her children: Richard Francis Ponton and his wife Sharon, James William Ponton and his wife Victoria, Kelly Marie Aversa and her husband Phillip, James Edward Ponton Jr., Michael Joseph Ponton and his wife Josephine, and Shannon Ann Levender and her husband Michael; her grandchildren: Jessica, Grant, Robert, Sarah, Maya, and Carly; and her great-grandchildren: Robert Jr. and Paige Mary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Friday, June 9, at St. Ann Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md., 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 21.

Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Mrs. Ponton's memory to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive; Lewes, DE 19958.

Please visit Mrs. Ponton's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.