Died: 28 January 2015
Betty Jo Chesak, age 82 years of Huntsville, AL, died on 28 January 2015 at Heartlite Hospice.
She was born in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina on 5 April 1932 to Joe and Nan Daley. Betty, along with her two sisters, Mary Woodworth and Patricia Fraser, had an interesting and exciting childhood as the daughters of an Army warrant officer. Betty lived in Oklahoma, California, Japan, and graduated high school in El Paso, Texas in 1950. After graduation, Betty started work at the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company. Less than a year later, her sister, Patricia, introduced her to her husband of 63 years, Kenneth Chesak. The couple married and moved to Louisiana, where Kenneth was stationed as a second lieutenant and Betty was starting her 30 year career as an Army Wife. Their first child, Kenneth Neil, was born at their next duty station Germany. Betty became familiar with evacuation drills and was unfazed by the realities of overseas Army life during the Cold War. Their second child, Joseph Scott, was born at Castle Air Force Base in California. Betty lived the rest of her life alongside her husband, supporting him, their two sons, and their families. She handled the rigors and uncertainty of raising a young family by herself while Kenneth served two separate one year tours in Viet Nam and participated in countless training exercises around the world. Betty moved six times, including one to France. She kept morale up and the family together as her sons left yet another school for new a one. While stationed in the Washington D.C. area, Betty worked as Office Manager for Weight Watchers. After being transferred to Redstone Arsenal in 1976, Betty became active in the Officers Wives Club. She served one year as president. She was active in all levels of garden club including the local Redstone Arsenal Garden Club up to the State Garden Club. Among the numerous positions she held, Betty was secretary for one year with the Garden Clubs of Alabama. She was program chairman for the state garden club for eight years. Betty found time to volunteer at Meals on Wheels, Good Shepherd Church, and the Red Cross. She worked with the Red Cross at Fox Army Medical Center and on their Bloodmobile. The Red Cross presented Betty a Dedicated Service Award for her many hours of volunteer service to local blood drives. Betty was named Woman of the Year by the Double Tree Women’s Club. She was a member of a bowling league, gourmet club, and book club. Betty’s lifetime was characterized by her kind, sweet, and gentle nature, as well as her sense of humor, generous giving of her time and care to others.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth, and her two sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Michele and Joe and Martha. Betty was blessed with four grandchildren, Ken and Michele’s children, April and Scott, as well as Joe and Martha’s children, William and Carsan Williams (married to Joe Williams). She has one great-grandchild, Owen Williams. Betty’s sister, Mary Woodworth, lives in Burke, Virginia. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Nan Daley, and her sister, Patricia Fraser.
The funeral will be at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Huntsville, Alabama on Thursday, Feb. 5th with visitation at 10:00 am, the funeral mass at 11:00 am, inurnment at the columbarium following the mass, and then a luncheon in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heartlite Hospice, 100 West Charlotte Ave., Scottsboro, AL 35768 or the North Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1101 Washington Street NW, Huntsville, AL 35801.
Betty is listed on pages xi and 132 in the 4th edition of the Seidemann Family Tree Book and pictured on page 71.