Betty Ann Toland

July 14, 1950 - March 12, 2020

Born to the late L.T. and Leanna Washington as the 5th of 7 children in Philadelphia, Pa, Betty was educated in the public school system and graduated from William Penn High School in 1969. She married and divorced the late Keith Toland; one child, Stephanie, was the product of their union. Having worked her way up from a directory assistance operator to a network engineer over the course of 30 years at the Phone Company, now known as Verizon, Betty retired at the early age of 53 years old. One of her biggest enjoyments was travelling the world with her bestie, the late Venetia Carvalho, aka 'Nish', who she met at the Phone Company. Best known as 'Penny', her nieces and nephews would call her the Mean Aunt, but they knew that everything she did came from a heart that was full of love. One of Penny's most famous sayings was "You don't run nothing!" and the response from her nieces and nephews was "That's Aunt Penny!". At every opportunity, whether it was a family BBQ, a work meeting or a casual conversation, she believed in mentoring the next generation so that they can grow and thrive without repeating the mistakes of the past. Our beloved mother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully at home after a three month battle with a number of interacting health conditions that ravaged her body. In her last days, she continued to laugh, cut up and 'holla!' with countless family and friends...a diva to the end! Penny leaves to Celebrate her Life, daughter, Stephanie; son-in-law, Bucky; grandchildren, Jacques and Cheyenne; sisters, Barbara Ann ('Patty'), and Catherine ('Kay'), and brother Tommy; brother-in-law, Gregory, and sister-in-law, Gwen; aunt, Ann; special sister and brother, Richard and Diane; goddaughter, Chavel; special niece-daughter, Sheree/Khadijah; longtime companion, George; and a whole host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.