Betty "Ruthie" Handy Cohen was born in New York City on February 8th, 1934 to W.C Handy Jr and Edwina Gandolfo-Handy. She entered Heavens gate on Monday September 30th 2019 at 85 years of age . As a child, she was known as Ruthie by her family and siblings. 

Betty worked as a nurses aide in her early years in Yonkers, New York before she married her husband Richard Cohen, who preceded her in death on September 6th 1999. Betty was a loving and devoted mother to her five children and proud grandmother to her three grandchildren. Betty dedicated her life to her children, and although she had little, she gave her children everything. She will be remembered for the wonderful life that she gifted to her children. We will cherish the fond memories from our childhood of trips to the beach, our walks in the park, outings to visit family in Mount Vernon, and countless day trips with family. We will also cherish and miss the wonderful Christmas holidays, and numerous road trips. 

Betty traveled later on in life. She visited California, Jamaica (West Indies), Florida, the Carolinas, and experienced for the first time a cruise to Bermuda. On her last trip she visited Hilton Head, South Carolina, where she spent time with her close family in August 2019. 

Most of all, Betty loved her family and instilled in her children strong values that will serve us forever. May you rest in peace alongside your mother. 

Betty is preceded in death by her siblings; the late Minnie Hanson, Wilhelmina Stratford, W.C Handy III. She is survived by her children; Donna Cohen, Richard Cohen (Doreen), Patricia Cohen-Griffin ( Reginald), Lillian Cohen, Steven Cohen. Her Grandchildren; Richard “Ritchie” Cohen, Cedric Bolden, Jared Ward and many nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends. 


Weep Not For Me
       By an Unknown Author

Weep not for me though I have gone
Into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul’s sweet flight
I am at peace, my soul’s at rest
There is no need for tears
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years
There is no pain, I suffer not
The fear is now all gone
Put now these things out of your thoughts
In your memory I live on
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death
But celebrate my life