Betty Jo Giuffre

Betty Jo Giuffre was born in Melrose, New Mexico on February 11, 1931 to Ardella and Benjamin Lary. She was the oldest of the five children, therefore the second mother in the home. The family grew up without many modern-day conveniences. No indoor bathroom till she was 13. They moved a lot based on available work for their dad. This gave Betty a tenacious inner strength and grit that guided her through life. The family eventually moved to Oxnard, California in 1943. Betty graduated from Oxnard High School and after some college courses landed a job at Sears and Roebuck. It is there that she met the love of her life, Joe Giuffre. They married on January 24, 1953 and shared 58 years together until his passing in 2011. They loved to travel, having visited 38 countries. Betty spent her adult life being a wife, sister, and mother. Joe decided to attended law school at a late age, so for a few years Betty took on managing the family business, that being the Baskin Robbins ice cream store at Niles Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue. Betty enjoyed learning and was proud to be the oldest student in many classes at Bakersfield College. She loved geology. A trip to Mammoth Lakes was geological bliss for her. Betty also dedicated decades to her passion of researching her families genealogy. She could talk for hours on end about her great discoveries. Betty took great pride in the authenticity of that research. She was also a longtime member of The Daughters of the American Revolution. For the past four years Betty endured significant physical limitations. She did not complain, she hung tough and carried on. She clung tight to her faith in God and thanked him for the simplest of things daily, such as finding keys constantly lost. Her strong faith and grit kept her living in her house of 48 years as she chose to. Betty's sisters Juanita (Lou) and Mary have lost their second mom on this earth, but Betty has gone to a better place and will continue to keep watch over all of us. A mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt she will always be. She will be laid to rest at Bakersfield National Cemetery with her husband Joe. For additional information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at (661) 873-8200