Betsy Lenore Chappell

September 30, 1930 - January 30, 2021

Betsy Lenore Chappell, age 90, of Olathe, KS, formerly of Kansas City, MO, passed away on January 30, 2021 at Villa St. Francis. Betsy was born September 30, 1930 in Topeka, KS, to the late Arch and Ellen (Racknor) Chappell. After graduating from Topeka High School, Betsy trained at the Menninger Clinic. Betsy worked private duty home health care while living and studying in Topeka, New York, and Kansas City. While studying classical music and opera at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, she met internationally known soprano opera singer Kathleen Kersting. Ms. Kersting was most influential in Betsy’s musical and spiritual lifelong journey. While living in New York City, Betsy performed and recorded several of Wagner, Puccini and Mozart’s arias on vinyl. Upon returning to Kansas City, she continued her studies in classical music at University of Missouri Conservatory of Music. Ms. Kersting introduced Betsy to Roman Catholicism and was her sponsor for the sacrament of initiation and member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help ~ Redemptorist Catholic Church. Betsy’s devotion to Our Blessed Mother was shared with other devout Catholics in attending Tuesday’s Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and praying the rosary daily. Two brothers Philip and Warren Chappell and sister-in-law Ann predeceased her. Survivors include her sister-in-law Cilly Chappell; several nieces, and nephews. Many thanks and grateful appreciation to Villa St. Francis staff for providing her care over the past nineteen months and to Catholic Community Hospice for their additional loving supportive care. Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00p.m., Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, MO. Interment at Scranton Cemetery at a later date.