Lewiston – Betty J. Giroux, 81, of 14 Shank St., in Lewiston, died unexpectedly Saturday afternoon, July 19, at Central Maine Medical Center with family at her side.

She was born in Columbia, Pa., Aug. 4, 1926, the daughter of Elmer and Ethel (Fox) Garber and was educated at Columbia High School in her hometown. On Nov. 23, 1946, she married Robert Giroux at Oyster Point in Lancaster, Pa. and they later settled in Lewiston to raise their family. She worked at Knapp Shoe for 23 years until her retirement. She was a member of East Auburn Baptist Church and for the last 20 years she volunteered countless hours at Central Maine Medical Center. She was also a member of Horizon 55, and in her free time enjoyed knitting many different items, but especially scarves. But what she enjoyed most of all was following, spending times with her friends, watching and enjoying the many various extracurricular activities that her children and grandchildren were involved in and special family times and get-togethers. She was a proud and heroic three-year survivor of breast cancer and will be greatly missed, but will always be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

She leaves her husband of 61 years, Robert Giroux of Lewiston; two daughters, Donna Giroux of Lewiston and Brenda Pelletier and Tim Clough of Auburn; three sons, Michel Giroux, Ronald Giroux and Pam Guerin, Marcel Giroux and wife, Jeannie, all of Lewiston; six grandchildren, Jared, Keith, Colby, Mason Giroux and Audrey and Tyler Pelletier; sister-in-law, Rita Noonan of San Diego, Calif.: and former son-in-law, Richard (Jr.) Pelletier of Sabattus; two brothers, Richard Garber of Lancaster, Pa., and Robert Garber of Lebanon, Pa., and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a brother, James Garber of Spring City, Pa., who died in 1981.