Betty Watzman Monroe, age 100, of Winter Park, passed away on February 7, 2025 at her home at the Mayflower. The daughter of Joseph and Sarah Denmark, she was born on November 23, 1924 in Pittsburgh, PA, and grew up in Steubenville, Ohio, where she met and married Milton Watzman in 1946. Betty and Milt moved to Orlando, after a brief stay in Pensacola, FL, in 1959, and together opened and managed Kara-Lyn, a women’s and children’s clothing store, with multiple locations throughout the Orlando area. After Milt died suddenly at age 55 in 1973, Betty met and married the second love of her life Ira Monroe in 1978. Ira brought to Betty new and wonderful additions to her family, who, after Ira’s passing in 1988, have remained close to her through the years.
Betty was a leader in the community, passionately giving of herself to many organizations that benefitted the local community. She was a long time member of the Congregation of Reform Judaism, and served as their congregation president from 1977 to 1979. She served as past president of the Jewish Federation of Central Florida, and was a lifetime member of Hadassah. She was recipient of the Heritage Jewish News Human Service award in 1993, and also of the Jewish Federation Jerome Bornstein Senior Leadership award in 1999. She moved to the Mayflower Retirement Community in 2004, and resided there until her passing. Her family is very grateful for the compassion and caring provided by the Mayflower and also by her caregivers from Bayada Home Healthcare during her last several years.
Betty was predeceased by her son Barry Watzman and stepson Mickey Monroe, and brothers Sam, Morris and Meyer Denmark, and granddaughter Jennifer Watzman. She is survived by her sons, David (& Karen) Watzman of Orange City, FL, and Dr. Max Watzman of Oviedo, FL, and stepdaughters Dr. Carol (& Norman) Traeger of Tiburon, CA and Wendy (& Bill) Cohen of Indianapolis, IN, daughter-in-law Debra Watzman of Albuquerque, NM, and beloved grandchildren Jeffrey, Matthew, Allison, Jessica, Jamie, Jennifer, Josh, Matthew, Michelle, Lori, Brian and Eddie, and multiple adored great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Betty will be remembered lovingly and passionately by her family and many cherished friends for her goodness, her loving spirit, her contributions to community and devotion to her family and the causes that she cherished.
Funeral Services for Betty will be held 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at Congregation Reform Judaism (928 Malone Drive, Orlando, FL) with Rabbi Rachael Jackson of Congregation Reform Judaism officiating. Interment will following at 11:15 AM at Congregation Reform Judaism Cemetery at Woodlawn (9200 Morton Jones Road, Gotha, FL)
In memory of Betty, the family requests donations to the Congregation of Reform Judaism (https://www.crjorlando.org) or the Jewish Family Services Orlando (https://www.jfsorlando.org), or a charity of your choosing. May she rest in peace and may her memory always be a blessing.
Arrangements entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 933 Lee Road, Suite 101, Orlando, FL 32810; 407-599-1180 (www.bethshalommemorialchapel.com).
Those who wish to watch the funeral service today please click on the link below: https://vimeo.com/event/4908995/399cfd6393
