Betty O'Flaherty Kent (101) passed away peacefully in the presence of family the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025.

Betty was born on April 22, 1924 in Washington D.C., the daughter of Lester and Audrey (Golladay) O'Flaherty. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1941 and Iowa State University in 1945.

Betty married James (Jim) Hutcheon in August 1952 in Washington, DC, and was the proud parent of Deborah and Jeffrey. Betty cherished listening to classical and big band music, especially Glenn Miller Orchestra, and loved singing and dancing. In August 1982, Betty married Jack Kent and resided in their dream home in Cape Coral, Florida for two decades.

Betty was a unique woman who loved her family deeply and broke the mold of a stereotypical mother or grandmother. She was a curious and inquisitive person, engaging family and friends in discussions and leaving family members feeling loved and appreciated. She was known for her sense of humor, spunky personality, big dance moves, and being a night owl. She loved sweets, games, and puzzles. She was particular about many things, but especially wallpapering, interior painting, and gift wrapping. A lover of numbers, Betty monitored her investments in the stock market daily, made trades on her computer well into her 90s, and tracked her stock prices meticulously in her journal for many years. She loved spending time collecting shells along the beaches of Sanibel Island, Florida. Betty also was passionate about politics and human rights and was extremely charitable to the causes she cared about most. She was a memorable woman and will be missed deeply by all.

She is survived by her daughter Deborah Hutcheon (Michael Huston); son Jeffrey Hutcheon (Amy Shilts); stepson Douglas (Christine) Kent; stepdaughters Christina Kent (Douglas Friddle), Barbara (Kris) Brardt and Mary H. Kent; grandchildren Bradley Hansen (Athena Stamos), Christina (Jerome) Pickett, Emma Huston (Elizabeth Erickson), Francesca Hutcheon, Karen Kent, David (Britton) Kent, Daniel Kent (Tony He), James (Abby) Kent, and Wolfgang Brardt; and great-grandchildren Quincy Pickett, Weston Pickett, Cooper Kent, and Bella Kent.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, and sisters Elaine Haydon and Audrey Heiser. She will be interred at a later date at the Florida National Cemetery.

Betty was a generous philanthropist. To honor her spirit, contributions may be made in her memory to two of her most passionate causes: Feeding America and Planned Parenthood.

Please follow the links below to donate:

Feeding America: give.feedingamerica.org/a/donate-in-honor

Planned Parenthood: http://wearepp.org/inmemory