Betty Zelent Obituary

Betty Zelent

Betty, nee Goller, was born in 1921 in Ney, OH and was a resident of Glen Ellyn for 46 years and most recently of Lombard for 11 years. She is survived by daughters Cynthia (James) O'Malley and Deborah (William) O'Malley and son Craig (Lauren Kearney). She was blessed with five grandchildren James (Amber) O'Malley, Benjamin (Tera) O'Malley, Megan (James) Setaro, Joseph (Shannon) O'Malley, and Katherine (Jeff) Emerson and ten great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Carl Zelent, brother Dalton Goller, and nephews John Goller and Mark Grieco. She is the aunt of Thomas Goller, Ruth Goller-Colville, Ralph Jacob, Randy Jacob, Ricky Jacob, Nancy Jacob-Hardy, Steven Grieco, and Donna Goffron.

As part of the Greatest Generation, Betty graduated from Ney High School in 1939. She was accepted to the school of nursing at Flower Hospital in Toledo, OH and working nights she passed the State Boards. Betty served in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps as a Lieutenant Junior Grade serving stateside at Newport News, VA and Bethesda, MD. She met her sweetheart Carl at Bethesda Naval Hospital as she helped him convalesce from a broken neck. Betty and Carl were married in the Methodist Church in Ney, OH on December 13, 1947. Betty earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Colorado and 20+ years later her Masters of Science in Nursing from Northern Illinois University.

Betty was a devoted wife and mother to Cynthia, Deborah and Craig. Over the years the family lived in Boulder and Denver, CO, Schenectady, NY, St. Louis, MO and Glen Ellyn, IL.

Betty worked as a practicing nurse for over 10 years and as a teacher of nursing for 9 years at Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois-Chicago, Elmhurst College and College of DuPage. In retirement Betty served on the Board of the Northeastern Area Agency on Aging. Betty enjoyed her hobbies of quilting, knitting, sewing and gardening and generously shared her love of these activities with many people.

Betty was a devout Christian, raised as a Methodist and once married to Carl, Betty embraced the Lutheran faith, enjoying 57 years as a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturay, February 15th from 10 AM until the time of service at 11 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, 41 N. Park Blvd. Glen Ellyn.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Northeastern Area Agency on Aging, 1901 S. Highland Ave. Ste #100, Lombard, IL 60148, https://www.ageguide.org/dupage/ or ESSE - Adult Day Care, 41 N. Park Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, www.esseadultdaycare.org/donate.