Betty Jean McGovern

Betty Jean McGovern was born on October 11, 1947 in Manhattan, NY. She was a longtime resident of Tallahassee, FL. She led a life full of love, faith, kindness and generosity. She cherished her family, and loved being a mother and grandmother. She raised her three daughters, Patricia, Alicia, and Jenny, in Tallahassee, and spoke of them with pride every chance she got. She absolutely loved being “Gran” to her grandsons, Elohim and Namor, and cherished the time and fun that she had with them.

She loved her Church life as well. She was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church for over 30 years, was very involved with different groups within the church, and filled various roles there over the years. She was also very involved with, and served on the Board for, the Big Bend Walk to Emmaus Group, as well as other faith groups around town. She loved to sing, was always singing or humming, and was active in her church choir. She also loved participating in singing groups that sang weekly at HarborChase and Broadview Assisted Living.

Betty retired in 2014 from the State of Florida, and took great pride in her work and her career there. In her retirement she enjoyed her added time for family, friends, crafting, and traveling. Most recently she enjoyed a “White Christmas” in Salt Lake City with family, and couldn't have been happier to see the snow on Christmas morning.

Betty was an incredible example of unconditional love. It was not uncommon for someone to tell her or her family that they could see the face of Jesus in her face, or that she was an angel. She truly saw the good in people, and it was her nature to let them know about the good things she saw in them, and not to focus on the negative. She constantly displayed a sense of wonder and excitement about the world, the people she met, and the experiences she had.

Betty passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 29, 2017. She was preceded in death by her mother, Josephine Silva Banker, her father, James Banker, her sister, Dorothy Banker Rodriguez, and her brothers, Jimmy Banker and Raymond Silva. She is survived by her daughters, Patricia and Jenny McGovern and Alicia McGovern Nordstrom, her grandsons Elohim and Namor McGovern de Freitas, her son-in-law Erik Nordstrom, her sister Ernestina Schaffer, her nieces A.J. Kamperdijk and Elizabeth Molina, and many cousins and extended family.

Her family and friends are shocked and heartbroken, but take comfort in the fact that she is experiencing the joy of being reunited with her departed loved ones, and the glory of the fulfillment of God's Promises of eternal grace and care that she held so dear.

A visitation is scheduled at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home on Riggins Road on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 from 5-7 pm. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life is scheduled at Grace Lutheran Church on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 4:30 pm.