Betty Lou Pusateri,76, of Arnold died Jan. 8, 2022, at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County. Mrs. Pusateri was a 1963 graduate of Festus High School and first worked as a switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone in St. Louis. She later retired from the pulmonary cardiac unit at St. Anthony’s Hospital (now Mercy Hospital South) in south St. Louis County. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Arnold and served as the president of the church’s Seniors Group. She was a very active and cheerful person who loved animals and organized many events and reunions. Born July 13, 1945, in Festus, she was the daughter of the late Laura Mae (Davis) and Jesse W. Ramey. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years: Ralph Louis Pusateri.
She is survived by a sister-in-law: Norma Burgess of Festus; four cousins: Marcia (Harold) Weiss of Crystal City, Gary (Deborah) Moore of Festus, Darlene (Michael) Wehner of Festus and Jeff Beckemeyer of De Soto; a nephew: Michael Burgess of Arnold; two nieces: Rachelle (Gary Firle) Berkbuegler of Festus and Jeanine (David) Medel of Leander, Texas; dear friend Pat Schneider of Arnold; and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by a nephew: Lee Andrew (the late Vicki) Burgess.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until a funeral service at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 3517 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold, officiated by Pastor Andy Becker. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.