April 27, 2012 Elizabeth J. (Abbey) Carter, 87, died peacefully at home Friday after a long illness. Betty was a lifelong resident of Syracuse, attending St. Anthony of Padua School and Powelson Business Institute. Prior to marriage, Betty worked as a secretary for the CIO. She was a homemaker and simultaneously worked at home for over 20 years assisting her husband, John, with his duties as financial secretary-treasurer for Steamfitters Local Union #818 and also at the Steamfitters office on W. Genesee St. for several years. She also worked for 10 years at Loretto Geriatric Center before retiring in 1992. She was predeceased by her husband, John E. Carter Jr., in 1981; as well as her brothers, James Abbey in 1995, William Abbey in 2009 and John Abbey in 2011; and her sister, Patricia King, in 2005. She is survived by five sons, Timothy of Tully, Michael of S. Onondaga, Thomas (Deborah) of Syracuse, Stephen (Deborah) of South Onondaga and Mark of Onondaga Hill; two daughters, Patricia (Dennis) Leogue of Syracuse and Deborah (William) Livadas of Chittenango; one sister, Margaret Dauler; sisters-in-law Sue Abbey, Eileen Abbey, Isabelle Carter, Ada Costello and Kathryn (Dolly) Pettengill; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Special thanks for the help of many family members and caregivers early on and eventually personal caregivers through Enable's self-directed personal caregiver program. Without your help and compassion, Mom would not have met her strong desire to remain in her home. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 300 Valley Drive, Syracuse, NY. Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Edward J. Ryan & Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Ave. Burial will be in Onondaga Valley Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Enable, 1603 Court St., Syracuse, NY 13208 or National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upstate NY Chapter, P.O. Box 23746, Rochester, NY 14692-3746.