Visitacion "Betty" Lepesqueur - Obituary

n May 17, 2018, Mrs. Visitacion (Betty) Lepesqueur passed away after an eight year battle with Alzheimer’s and five month diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Born on July 1, 1932 in Manila, Philippines, Betty was considered the "brainiac" of her 12 other siblings, always choosing her studies over other pursuits. In 1963, she was awarded the Fulbright academic scholarship in Education to pursue her second Master’s of Arts degree at Columbia University building on her Master's of Arts degree in Education from University of Philippines which she received in 1962. At Columbia University, she was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi, Education Honor Society at Columbia University and graduated from Teachers College Program (aka her second Master of Arts degree) in December 1963. It was also there that she met a young American gentleman from the Bronx with a Belgian-French last name, Raymond (Ray) Lepesqueur, Jr., son of Maj. Raymond August Lepesqueur, Sr., a mechanical engineer and decorated officer in the US Army. Ray saw Betty across the floor at a Valentine's Day dance in 1967. He pursued, she resisted, he persisted. They married a year later and they marked their 50th wedding anniversary together on May 4, 2018. Following their wedding, the couple moved to Fort Belvoir, VA where Ray, a Captain in the US Army, was then stationed. Shortly thereafter, they settled in the Tantallon area of Fort Washington, MD and raised two daughters, Michelle and Eloise. Ray was honorably discharged from active service in 1971. Betty taught in the Prince George's County Public Schools System, starting at Glassmanor Elementary and ending her career teaching at Francis T. Evans Elementary School by Andrews Air Force Base. Her dedication and passion for educating countless youth was apparent every day over her 28 year tenure in the PGCPS System. In her spare time, Betty served as Prefect for Sodality of our Lady at St, Mary's of Piscataway, as President of the Southern Maryland Arts and Antiques Association SMAAA, and as a host at Suratts House Museum Visitor's Center. She was an avid gardener, loved lively political discourse, was addicted to both playing and watching tennis, took immense pride in her extraordinary culinary talents, was a lover of the arts and theater with memberships with the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage and Shakespeare Theater, was a consummate shopper (Macy’s already misses her) and an even better haggler, and was a world traveler always interested in seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. Betty lived life fully and with purpose. As Ray said, “My wife was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, and daughter. Her family meant everything to her. She also was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. She was the first of her family to come to the States, a true trailblazer. I’ll never forget the moment I laid eyes on her and she is as gorgeous to me now as she was then.” She was an inspiration - as a woman, wife, mother and educator, paving the path for the future generations of Hilario and Lepesqueur women to be as fierce, passionate and strong as she was. She is preceded in her passing by beloved family members: her mother, Pacencia (Gozum) Hilario; father, Florencio Hilario; sister, Nora (Hilario) Crowley; brother, Roberto Hilario; brother, Ricardo Hilario; brother, Arturo Hilario; brother, Abelardo Hilario, and brother-in-law, Andy Custodio. She is survived by husband, Raymond August Lepesqueur, Jr.; daughter, Michelle Yannotti Wilson; grandsons Gino Yanotti II and Jack Wilson; daughter, Eloise Lepesqueur; brother, Rudolfo Hilario and his wife, Ming; brother, Renato Hilario, and his wife, Teresita; sister, Daisy (Hilario) Custodio; brother, Danilo Hilario and his wife, Lourdes; brother, Benjamino Hilario and his wife, Auring, sister, Susan Hilario; brother, Alfonso Hilario and his wife, Eleanor. The viewing will be held at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd. Oxon Hill, MD on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Columba Catholic Church, 7800 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 10 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton, MD. Please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association (http://bit.ly/2L9SP54) or the World Literacy Fund (http://bit.ly/2k5zPbM) in her honor.