From the left, Marie Blash, Betty Winek, a rep from Komen and Barbara Purks.
It is with a very sad heart that I am writing this. Betty was a very special lady and loved being a member of our guild. She was president in 1989 and brought us the first Tea and Auction. Betty was also part of the original Komen Committee when our guild became involved in making quilts to fundraise for Komen. In 1994 Betty was named Outstanding Member of the Year of our guild for the time she devoted to this great cause as well as volunteering with other guild activities. And, in 1998 Betty was named Orange County Komen Volunteer of the Year.
Whenever something needed to be done, Betty was right there helping. Betty loved the time she spent quilting and made quilts for her children, grandchildren and even a few of her great grandchildren. In addition to belonging to Orange Grove Quilters Guild, she was also a member of Orange County Quilt Guild for a number of years as well as belonging to several friendship groups.
Betty’s Catholic faith was a very big part of her life. She and Jim were active in their local parish – first St Justine Martyr in Anaheim and then St. Martin de Porres in Yorba Linda.
Over the years I came to know Betty not only as a guild member and Komen volunteer but also as “Mom”. When I lost my own mother in 1999, Betty told me that she would always be a mom to me. She and her husband Jim became my adopted parents.
Betty and Jim moved to California from Superior, Wisconsin first settling in Anaheim, then moving to Yorba Linda and, finally, to an assisted living facility in Corona where she only stayed three days before this final illness. They raised four children – Tim, John, Mark and Cathy. Betty is also survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I’ll miss you Betty! Rest in peace.
Marie Blash