Elizabeth Ann (Boylan) Fanning, 85, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.

Betty was born in Hoopeston, Ill., to the late Lloyd and Catherine (Campbell) Boylan. She was the middle child with an older brother, Bob, and younger sister, Mary. When her mom died at a young age and her dad lost his sight, Betty became the primary caregiver for her younger sister and the backbone of the family. She was a stellar student and athlete, playing softball on the high school team.

After graduation, Betty attended nurses’ training at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Danville, Ill. During this time, she met her future husband, John William Fanning (Bill) while he was stationed in her hometown, serving in the U.S. Army as a long-range radar specialist and sharp-shooter.

After their wedding in September 1961, the newlyweds headed back East, to Bill’s home in Agawam, Mass., where they raised their family (son, Bill, and daughter, Ellen) and were active community members. Betty was a member of Agawam’s Junior Women’s Club, played tennis, volunteered for the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts associations, and formed many long-lasting friendships.

She was a working mom and businesswoman – for many years managing all 8 Longmeadow Flowers shops and later working as a bookkeeper for Hastie Fence in Agawam. More recently she worked with Manse Hill Silver, a horse-tack distributor, where she tapped into her natural strength as a salesperson, attending trade shows in the U.S. and London.

A voracious reader, Betty passed her love of books to her children and grandchildren.

Her husband, Bill, was the light of her life. Their love story spanned an amazing 64 years, filled with many tropical trips, dinner parties with friends and family celebrations – and many more moments spending precious time with each other.

In addition to her parents, Betty was also predeceased by her brother Robert Boylan and her sister Mary Ellen Ontiveros. She will be forever missed by her beloved husband, as well as their children; John William Fanning III of Los Angeles and Ellen Fanning and her husband, Jack Merrill, of New Hampton, N.H., and her cherished grandchildren, Max and Sam. The family will hold a memorial gathering to celebrate Betty’s life at their home in the springtime.

Wilbraham Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.