Betty Ann (Van Pelt) Chambers went to her heavenly home on June 17, 2022.

How do you sum up in a few paragraphs the life of someone who was such a dependable, loving, positive force in the lives of all she touched? Words seem inadequate.

Born on July 14, 1937, on a farm in rural Warren County, Ind. to Charles and Ethel Van Pelt, she was the youngest of 13 children, so she knew a lot about sacrifice.  Her family was impoverished, and Mom said she was unaware of this because they always had love and enough to eat. Family was important, and there were huge Sunday dinners. Mom could remember boiling water on the warm-morning stove for the piles of dishes that would follow the dinners. A significant impact on Mom's early life was helping care for her bedfast older brother, Clyde, who later died of what she believed to be rheumatoid arthritis. Assisting with him as a child helped form her into the caring adult she became.

She married her high school sweetheart, Leroy E. Chambers, on January 1, 1957. One of the things we remember most about their marriage is their friendship – waking up to them drinking coffee and talking quietly in the morning is just one example.

Dad had joined the Navy, so Mom began her career of moving where the Navy sent him. Dad received orders often, and we remember her with a can of paint and her box of curtains in hand, making our newest location into a home. She helped us adjust to new schools and positively accept the next move.

Mom went to school to get her Beauty Operator's License - although she never used it except to give haircuts to family members and their friends. Mom also worked as a Teacher's Aide at Seeger Memorial Jr. High in Indiana for several years.

Our Mom was the strongest woman we've ever met, and she wasn't afraid of anyone or anything.  There are so many stories we can tell you – like during the race riots in Key West, Fla., in the 1970s, she walked into the midst of the riots to bring her children safely home from school.

One of Mom's biggest joys was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She always said she was lucky to see even her great-grandchildren grow up.  They have memories of helping her clean, working in the yard, filling bird feeders, and decorating her Christmas tree, to name a few. The most significant gift she gave them was her time, making them all feel special.

Mom loved reading, watching westerns & Hallmark, volunteering at church and school, painting ceramics, mowing, and gardening (her tomatoes were always exceptional.)  She was also a great cook, and our Thanksgiving dinners always included her homemade egg noodles, pumpkin pie, and her favorite-apple pie.

Mom loved being helpful. Whatever your need, she was right there, whether nursing you back to health, helping you clean, or working on a project. Her energy and stamina made us all feel lacking.  She was generous, giving anyone anything she had.  Mom was always cheerful, with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes – a loving influence that we will always cherish.

Alzheimer's struck and took her independence. Unless you knew our Mom before the illness, you really can't understand how sad this is. We were all relieved that through it all she kept her pleasant personality. Mom never forgot her family and was surrounded by them when she passed.  We know she is in heaven, with her servant's heart asking what she can do to help—and maybe looking around and mentioning a few things she sees need to be done. We will never forget her. Mom has left a hole we will never fill—the downside to being blessed with someone so incredible in our lives.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Leroy, in 2003.

She is survived by her three daughters, Bettina (Scott) Kinder, Brenda (Wes) Kern, and Belinda (Matt) Lundberg; her grandchildren, Rob, Joe, Allison and Shane; her great-grandchildren, Chase, Hailee, Caitlin, Cody, Kallee, Madison, Blaine and Tinley.

Services will be held at Wolfersberger Funeral Home in O'Fallon, Ill. on Friday, June 24, 2022, with visitation from 11:30-1:00 p.m., with a service to begin at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Randy Cunningham officiating.  Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Glen Carbon, Ill.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association on her behalf.