Grammy Betty

Tomorrow our family will be heading out to Victorville to attend the memorial service for Jason’s grandmother. Betty passed away suddenly on December 12th after a short hospital stay.

Betty was a beautiful, 81 year-old woman who stayed active through volunteer work and club memberships. She was a voracious reader who passed that love along in her volunteer work teaching literacy. She got around Victorville in her hip, green, Ford Mustang; going to chat group meetings and visiting friends.

Betty was a joy to converse with. I enjoyed chats at family gatherings, she always had a smile and would intersperse Yiddish words or sayings into the conversation.

I will never forget one of the first times I met her when Jason and I were still dating. We were eating dinner, and my meal came with a large piece of broccoli. I don’t eat broccoli. She kept raving about my broccoli. “What a beautiful piece of broccoli!” “Look at that piece of broccoli!” “I hope you are going to eat that broccoli.” Needless to say I choked down that broccoli! Jason and I still joke about that every time broccoli is served.

Betty had 5 children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her loving spirit is missed by the many lives she touched.

Betty at her 80th Birthday Party, 2007

Eddie and Betty Simon, circa 1967

Remembering Our Little Glory Babies

Mama Tey

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, my grandmother, Esther died of ovarian cancer. Mama Tey (a name her family lovingly called her) was 81 years old. She had been diagnosed with cancer only the week before her death.

Mama Tey loved to travel. She had visited Israel, Germany, South America, Egypt, and various other places. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, embroidery, and crocheting. Mama Tey was also a great cook. She made tasty chili verde, caldo, rice, and even her quesadillas were the best. Her dish I will miss the most, especially on a cold afternoon, is sweet rice!

Mama Tey had six children, 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by the many who loved her.