Elizabeth "Betti" R. McInnis

Elizabeth Riley McInnis, known as Betti to her friends and Mimi to her grand- and great-grandchildren, passed away on October 17, 2024 at the age of 92.

Betti was born in Houlton, Maine in 1932 to Gerald and Jean Riley, and spent her childhood and teen years there and on the family’s beloved camp on nearby Nickerson Lake. In 1947 she met her future husband, Philip. While he served in the U.S. Army, she attended Fisher College in Boston. They were married in 1952, and later moved to Watkins Glen, and finally to Penn Yan in 1961 where she lived the remainder of her long life. While raising her 5 children she also worked as secretary to the Dean at Keuka College. She served the important role of executive assistant to her husband as his successful program, Assured Readiness for Learning, became an important program throughout the US and Canada.

Betti was known as a woman of great style, charm and intelligence. Her granddaughter Katie writes of what we all admired about her Mimi: “Your commitment to daily habits of reading and walking and learning. Keeping your mind sharp with the NY Times crossword puzzles. Creating a home full of beauty and charm. Dressing yourself with grace and whimsy. Caring for your dogs as though they are your children. Loving Jon [her disabled son] through a thousand ups and downs. Valuing education and advocating for its importance. Finding a way to embrace the unexpected turns that life took. Engaging with the stories of people unlike you, whether through books or newspapers or in person. You are a woman of strength, wit, intellect, beauty, patience, and courage.” Her close friend, Janice Ogden of Penn Yan was always happy when she played Trivial Pursuit on Betti’s team, because Betti was always known as the smartest person at the table.

Betti enjoyed playing golf at Lakeside Country Club, and also enjoyed time on Keuka Lake with her family and at her cottage. She was a loving mother to her five children, grandmother to her seven grandchildren, and to her nine great-grandchildren, and was always happy to spend time with them and share stories of her life as well as offer them guidance in all of life’s lessons. 

Betti is survived by her children, Susan (David) Wolowitz of New Hampshire, Jon McInnis of Newark, NY, Lisa (Tim) Hegarty of Arizona, Philip Jr. (Martha) McInnis of Manlius, NY, and Leslie McInnis of Penn Yan; brothers, Terry (Pat) Riley of North Carolina, and Butch (Glenda) Riley of Houlton; seven grandchildren whom she adored, Emily, Katie, Madison, David, Brian, Colin, and Jenna; and nine wonderful great-grandchildren, Camellia, Peter, Bodhi, Ava, Redmond, Aislyn, Elijah, Lydia, and Anastasia. Betti was predeceased by her parents, her husband Philip McInnis, Sr., and her infant brother Robert Riley.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring of 2025; the date will be announced at a later time. 

Memorial donations in her memory may be made to the Yates County Humane Society, PO Box 12, Penn Yan, NY 14527 (or online at YatesHumane.org); or Milly’s Pantry, PO Box 734, Penn Yan, NY 14527 (or online at MillysPantry.org), as well as The Penn Yan Public Library.