Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" (Kaus) Comizio

There are stories we read, and there are stories we live. Betsy’s was a story of kindness.

Some people spend their lives searching for ways to make a difference. Betsy did it every day. She made people feel welcome, inspired children to discover the magic of books, and showed her family that life’s greatest riches are found not in possessions, but in laughter, curiosity, and love.

To know Betsy was to know someone who treated every person as though they mattered. She greeted strangers like friends, remembered the little things, and made those around her feel seen. She believed the world was worth exploring—one conversation, one question, and one book at a time.

In 1980, she married her beloved husband, Carmine Comizio, Jr. Together they built a life filled with love, resilience, and laughter while raising their three daughters: Lauren Comizio (Michael Ciardullo), Jenna Guarino (Peter), and Jessica Kalajian (Michael). Her daughters never doubted they were deeply loved.

Without meaning to, Betsy taught them one of life’s greatest lessons: love is measured not by what you give, but by how you make people feel. Even when money was tight, childhood felt abundant. She turned ordinary afternoons into adventures, libraries into magical places, and simple moments into cherished memories. Looking back, her daughters do not remember what they lacked—they remember feeling safe, loved, and endlessly cherished.

Curiosity was one of Betsy’s greatest gifts. She never stopped learning, asking questions, or sharing her love of reading with others. For more than thirty years as Director of the Montgomery Free Library, she connected people with stories that entertained, comforted, and inspired them. But her title never fully captured who she was. She was a champion of readers, a mentor to children, and a believer in the power of books to open hearts and minds.

To Betsy, books were never just books. They were invitations to imagine, learn, and understand one another. She lived her life the same way she recommended her favorite novels—with an open heart, endless curiosity, and the hope that every encounter might leave someone a little better than before.

She found joy in life’s simple pleasures: a good book, a cat curled beside her, a favorite piece of cheese, and a spoonful of honey. She understood that happiness is rarely found in extraordinary moments, but in ordinary ones shared with people you love.

Her grandchildren were among her greatest joys: Thomas, Nora, Adalyn, Evoly, and Ava. Thomas held an especially treasured place in her heart. More than a grandson, he was a confidant, companion, and dear friend. She adored all of her grandchildren and delighted in watching their unique personalities grow.

She was preceded in death by her beloved granddaughters, Micaela and Cailin Guarino, whom she carried in her heart every day. Though their time here was brief, her love for them was endless.

She is also survived by her siblings, Francis Bickford Kaus, Linda Squeri (Lawrence) and Jane Heindel, her brothers-in-law Robert Comizio (Lynn) and Thomas Comizio, and many cherished nieces, nephews, and dear cousins.

Betsy leaves behind not only the family and friends who loved her, but countless lives made brighter by her kindness—a child who discovered a love of reading, a patron who found a favorite book, a neighbor shown unexpected generosity, or a friend who felt truly heard.

The library shelves she lovingly tended will hold new books, and new readers will walk through its doors. Yet her true legacy extends far beyond those walls. Every act of kindness, every spark of curiosity, and every child who falls in love with reading carries forward a small part of who she was.

Every librarian hopes to help people find the right story. Betsy did something even rarer—she helped people become part of one. The story of a community made kinder by her presence, and a family forever shaped by her love.

The stories Betsy loved will continue to be read, but the most beautiful story she ever wrote was the one she lived—with kindness on every page, curiosity in every chapter, and love woven through every line.

That is the story we will carry with us always.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, aides, and staff of United Hospice for the kindness, compassion, and support they provided during Betsy’s final journey. Their care brought comfort not only to Betsy, but also to her family, and their generosity of spirit will never be forgotten.

A celebration of her life will take place at a later date. 

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