Elizabeth "Betty" M. Dowding, 84, the wife of sixty-five years to Kenneth W. Dowding, died on Saturday (December 13, 2014) at St. Francis Hospital. Betty was born in Stafford Springs, the daughter of Norman R. and Elizabeth (Zamichiei) MacLagan and had lived in Manchester since 1955. She had worked as the bookkeeper for the family business, Kenny's Equipment Service. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister she was a woman of strong faith, especially giving and generous to all and had been a great caretaker to both her family and her in-laws' family. Betty loved to cook and bake, especially baking Christmas cookies, host parties and complete crossword puzzles. She had also helped as a den mother and troop leader for the Girl Scouts. Besides her husband Kenneth, she is survived by her children Mary V. Dowding of Tolland, Kenneth "Butch" Dowding, III of Manchester, Jane Dowding Stetson of Manchester and Jean Dowding Hickey and her husband Robert of Brewerton, NY; four grandchildren Jason Stetson, Jonathan Hickey, Joseph Hickey and Amanda Hickey Earl and her great-grandchildren Josiah, Savannah and Alyssa. She is also survived by her sister Jane White of Manchester; her nieces Kathy White Seaburg and Cindy White Marr and their families and her adopted daughter Nancy Funcheon. Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St., Manchester on Tuesday (12/16) from 5:00-8:00. People are asked to meet directly at St. Bridget Church, 80 Main St., Manchester for a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday at 11:00 to be followed by burial in St. Bridget Cemetery, Manchester. Memorial donations may be made to either the Manchester Area Conference of Churches, 466 Main St., Manchester, CT, 06040 or a charity of the donor's choice. For online condolences please visit tierneyfuneralhome.com.