Pillar Of Manchester Business, Philanthropy, Dies At 96

MANCHESTER, CT — A cornerstone of the business and charitable community in Manchester who came to the Silk City by way of England has died.

Longtime Allied Printing owner Betina M. (Greaves) Sommers was 96 when she died on Jan. 6, according to her obituary from Carmon Community Funeral Homes.

Sommers went by "Bette" to those who knew her. She was born on Feb. 23, 1926, in Cambridge, England, and married John Sommers in 1943. In 1949, she and her husband founded Allied Printing Services, Inc. out of their garage and, now, nearly three-quarters of a century later, the third-generation family owned business boasts more than 400 employees.

Sommers did a lot at Allied, from working as a typesetter to proofreading and serving as a vice president. She was known as being as detailed as people came.

Allied didn't stop at printing and over the years contributed to organizations like Connecticut Children's Medical Center, the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, the Cushing Academy, Manchester Community College, local and regional arts associations, the Manchester Police Department and several local sports organizations.

Calling hours are scheduled for Jan. 16, from 3 to 7 p.mm at Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road in South Windsor. Services will be private.

See her full obituary here.