Medine Elizabeth "Betsy" James-Elmehais, 75, of Somerset, N.J., passed away peacefully on October
1, 2022, at Robert Wood Johnson  University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Born in Mount Kisco, N.Y., she grew up in Metuchen and has resided in Somerset for the last 32 years. She graduated from Metuchen High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Betsy retired in 2012 after more than  40 years as a social worker with the Middlesex County Board of Social Services in North Brunswick as well as the Middlesex County Housing Authority in Perth Amboy. She was compassionate toward those in need, often going beyond the call of duty to help clients deal with housing, employment, financial and family issues.

Betsy was predeceased by her beloved parents, Robert and Medin James. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 33 years, Sam Elmehais, and her brother, Ed James of Highland Park, as well as four stepchildren, several cousins and first cousins once removed, a niece and nephew.

Betsy's early interest in Europe was largely due to her mother, who was born in Spain and fled Franco

as a teenager, joining the Resistance in France, and her father's fighting in  World War II. At the age of 13, she attended school in Switzerland for a year, and later years enjoyed traveling in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. She was fluent in  French and Spanish.

Betsy enjoyed the arts and served on the board of OLLIRU, a Rutgers program offering courses in the arts, history and other subjects to retirees who, like her, were eager to keep learning. She frequently attended jazz concerts and films (her favorites were foreign). She was extremely well read, and played the guitar and sang; favorites were "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Summertime".

She was very interested in psychology and discussed the subject often with her mother, a teacher.

Betsy had a wide circle of friends and was extremely supportive of them. She was devoted to her family and they would invariably gather for holidays at her home. She also served on the board of the Quailbrook Homeowners Association in Somerset.

Cremation services were held privately. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Flynn and Son / Koyen Funeral Home in Metuchen.