Mary "Betty" Kratzenstein

The "Miracle Baby of 1930", Bronx, NY., at just four pounds was known affectionately as "Betty" her entire life. She was a prolific watercolor artist who taught and inspired many in connecting with their innate creativity.

As a young woman, Betty worked at Norcrosse Cards and studied Art at the Phoenix School of Design and the Art Students League in Manhattan on evenings and weekends. She worked from home for many years hand watercolor painting First Day of Issue Stamp envelopes. In numerous counties (Orange, Ulster, Greene, Schoharie, Delaware, Otsego and Chenango) she had her original Artwork Displayed and taught art classes to folks of all ages. 

Betty was predeceased by her husband, William Kratzenstein and two brothers, Robert and William White in a year’s time between 2014 and 2015 (her parents, Otelia Morgan and Harry White in 1994/1995),  and by her sister in law, Dorothy Kratzenstein and brother in law, Howard Norris, 2018/2022. 

She leaves behind her two daughters, Beverly Harding and Alice Blu; three grandchildren and grandson in law, Christopher and Madison Harding, Otelia Blu and Fenghua Zhao; two sisters in law, Muriel and Gretchen White; four nieces, Carol and Gail, Greta and Susan; four nephews, Ken and Wayne, Bradley and Kevin…and their spouses.

A memorial service will be held at 2PM on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820

Sale of Mary's artworks to be held this summer to Benefit conservation work in New York State!

Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with Mary's family.