AMHERST—Elizabeth A. (Golden) Carter, 83, of University Drive, passed away on Sept. 11, 2012 at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst.

   Betty was born May 13, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY and raised in an Irish Catholic family, the daughter of the late James and Edna Golden. She graduated from St John’sCollege in NY.  An adventurous spirit with a great thirst for life, Betty and her friend Jean Gorman left home for Munich, Germany where they worked for Radio Liberty and skied the Alps. In 1959, she married the dapper Samuel H. Carter of Chattanooga, TN. They raised their sons Bennett and Timothy in Englewood, NJ and RyeNY.

   Betty earned her Master’s in Social Work from HunterCollege and embarked on an illustrious career as a family therapist, teacher, activist, author, mentor, and leader. A pioneer in feminist family therapy, she was renowned for her teaching, indomitable wit, and brilliant insights. Betty was founder of Family Institute of Westchester in White Plains, NY, and a member of the Women’s Project in Family Therapy. She co-authored The Expanded Family Life Cycle and The Invisible Web, and wrote the popular book Love, Honor, and Negotiate: Making Your Marriage Work.

   Of equal importance to Betty was being with her family and dear friends. She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Samuel Carter; her cherished sons Bennett, and Timothy and his wife Jennifer Murray; sister Edna and husband James Murphy; brother James Golden and wife Anne (Gorman); nieces Kristen Golden and wife Barbara Findlen, Joanne (Golden) and husband John Quinn, Edna Murphy and husband David Howarth, Madeleine Murphy and husband Scott Bullerwell; and nephew Stephen Golden and wife Beth; grandchildren Dylan, Max, and Eliza; and grandnieces/nephews Grace, Sam, Michael, Dan, Patrick, Adrienne, Jessica, Joseph, Jake, and Madeleine; and lifelong friends Vera and Chet Kalm, Patsy McCarthy, and Monica McGoldrick.

   Funeral services will be held on Monday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. at Grace Church, Amherst, burial will follow in WildwoodCemetery, Amherst. Calling hours will be Sunday, Sept. 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Donations in Betty’s memory may be made to the Family Institute of Westchester/Betty Carter Scholarship Fund or the Southern Poverty Law Center.

   Full service details, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow and sharing features are available here.