Elizabeth “Betty” Jonke

ELIZABETH “BETTY” JONKE (nee Redmond) age 89, beloved wife of the late Richard C.; loving mother of Kathleen Skopec (husband Robert), Richard, Theresa Jonke-Brown (husband Lawrence), and Rebecca Paleo (husband Robert) and the late Michael; devoted grandmother of Allison Skopec, Quentin Paleo, Stuart Skopec, Roxanne, Eva and Alexa Paleo; cherished daughter of the late Herbert J. and Edna Fay (nee McLemore) Redmond; dearest sister of Peggy Carlo (husband Richard) and Sandy Mitchell (husband Bill) and the late Joseph Redmond (wife Hildegarde), Patricia Chiudioni (husband Mario), Richard Redmond and Rita Redmond; dear aunt, great-aunt, sister-in-law, and friend of many.

Betty died on December 14 at Heather Hill Care Communities.  She was a resident of Montville Township for 60 years, and spent her last two years at Maplewood Senior Living in Chardon.

Betty was born November 13, 1929 in Cleveland.  She was married for 61 years to the love of her life, Richard (Rich) (deceased.)  Her family moved to East Claridon in 1947, and she graduated from Chardon High School in 1948. She attended her first three years of high school in Missouri, and she attended elementary school at St. Philomena’s in Cleveland.  Betty worked at clerical jobs in Cleveland and at Chardon Rubber.  She worked with Rich on the family farm helping with the orchards, in the vineyard, and with the other produce and meticulously took care of all the bookkeeping for their farming business.

Betty was an avid reader, and especially loved biographies and books related to health and medicine.  She was very creative, and loved to bake, quilt and crochet, and grew beautiful flowers in her garden.  She did all her own wallpapering and painting.  Once she built her own picnic table with lumber she found in the barn.

Betty was a member of St. Patrick Church in Thompson for 62 years.  She was a member of the St. Barbara’s Catholic Study Club for nearly 60 years and enjoyed the warm friendships and get-togethers she had with its members, her good friends.

She had a great wit, wonderful sense of humor, and a warm, beautiful smile.

Betty loved her husband Rich, with all of her heart, and she missed him greatly these past five years since his passing.  She loved her family dearly, and will be deeply missed by all.

The family would like to thank the kind nurses and staff at Maplewood of Chardon for their special care and attention to Betty these last two years.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Betty to Montville Fire and Rescue, 9755 Madison Road, Montville, Ohio 44064 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, December 22, 2018 11 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church 16550 Rock Creek Road, Thompson. Burial following at St. Patrick Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Betty at THE CHURCH SATURDAY MORNING from 10 – 11 AM. Arrangements by THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY OF CHARDON (formerly Ritondaro).