Betty Palmer Cabral, age 84, was called home on April 7, 2022. 

Born to Italian immigrants John Palmer (Palmieri) and Rosa Pagliaro Palmer, the native Westporter was part of the fabric of Westport. 

She loved her childhood here, growing up surrounded by colorful characters on Richmondville Avenue, where family worked at the mill, and built homes near each other where they raised chickens, grew vegetables, had fruit trees, made wine, and celebrated life. 

She was an enthusiastic Staples student, was a cheerleader and an excellent student. After graduating in 1955, she met her soul mate and husband, Joe Cabral, at Central Connecticut State College (now CCSU) where they both graduated and each went on to earn advanced teaching degrees. 

Together, they raised their two successful children, Susan Cabral Hiltz (Harry) and Kevin Cabral (Laura). 

They founded the Hair Place in 1968, which was a fixture “mom-and-pop” business for decades, and where they forged lifelong friendships. 

After she lost Joe, when she was in her early 40s, Betty ran the salon business, and built a life for herself and her kids, which included deep ties in the community and in Assumption Church, where she was a member of the Catholic Daughters, and an active liturgical participant; in her neighborhood where everyone was welcome to their epic, yearly, Halloween celebrations, teen hangout sessions and summer pool parties. 

She dazzled everyone with her talents. She was a gourmet Italian cook, a professional-level seamstress, a baker and all-round life enthusiast. 

Considered a close family member to many friends and relatives, she could be seen snapping pictures at countless, weddings, baby showers, birthdays and holiday celebrations. 

She helped a lot of people make some sense of the world; always there with a kind word, steady demeanor, a touch of the hand and a nudge in the right direction. 

Aside from her children, she will be sorely missed by her 11 grandchildren, Hayden, Logan, Leanna, Hailey, Amy, Kate, Chevy, Nathan, Emily, James and Thomas; her brother, Carlo, and sister-in-law, Marcey; nephew, Michael Palmer and his family; several god children, cousins and scores of friends, and her devoted dog, Mitzy.

Friends are invited to attend a funeral on Tuesday, April 12, at 10 a.m., meeting directly at Assumption Church, 98 Riverside Ave., Westport, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main St. Westport.

There will be no calling hours. Condolences for the family may be left online at www.hardingfuneral.com. 

Contributions in memory of Betty, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Assumption Church, 98 Riverside Ave., Westport, CT 06880.