Elizabeth Dettenmayer, a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, went home to be with the Lord on January 22, 2021. Born in Ann Arbor Michigan 97 years ago, she enjoyed most of her life in Illinois. In 2005, she moved to sunny Jupiter, Florida to be with her son and daughter-in-law.
Elizabeth's father Alfred was a baker at the University of Michigan when she was very young. Later, she lived with her mother Elnor, her two younger brothers: Bud and Ernie, and her grandmother Alice.
Elizabeth/Betty inherited her grandmother's love of cooking and baking lovely meals and beautiful desserts. She was very active in the Highland Park Evangelical Congregational Church for most of her life where she taught Sunday school and cooked delicious dishes for all kinds of church functions. Betty was also a working mom, not only managing an apartment building with the help of her first husband and hardworking son, but she also worked in the bakery department at Sunset Foods. Where else?
After marrying Henry, a fellow widower, she became very involved with the ladies in the Lake Forest Garden Club and the Women's Club of Highland Park. A gracious hostess, Betty's special holiday parties, with each place at the table beautifully set, were loved by family and dear friends. The Christmas party was complete with a real Santa carrying a sack of presents, and an outstanding meal made entirely from scratch, ending with her homemade cookies, cakes and pies of all sorts. In season, Betty would bake delicious cherry pies from ones she picked in her backyard and she always made her son Tom his favorite, a strawberry pie with whole strawberries and a pastry crust, whose goodness could never be duplicated. If you were one of the lucky ones to know her, you would likely be the recipient of a full tin of a variety of the most perfect Christmas cookies, including everyone's favorite- Chocolate Chip. Santa had privately asked her to make and give away 1000 of "The Best" cookies each year and she was happy to oblige.
Betty or Beth as she liked to be called in her later years, was a deeply religious woman and her beautiful and thoughtful prayers at the dinner table will live on through her family. Heaven is likely enjoying the wonderful aroma of Grandma Betty's delicious cookies. Better get your empty tins ready, her cookies truly are the best.
She will be greatly missed by her devoted son Tom & his wife Pat. A deep appreciation to them for many years of exceptional care giving.
Beloved Grandson Robert (Nicole) Walker, Great Grandsons Matthew, Ben, and Ean. Beloved Granddaughter Idyath (Mike) Yassemi, Great Granddaughter Lily. Treasured Step daughter Mary Felton, Grandchildren Billy & Sandy, Great Grandson Lucas.
She was preceded in death by her much-loved husband Henry, Brothers Bud and Ernie, and many dear friends including Lee, Frank, and Eileen.
Thank you to Trust Bridge Hospice of Palm Beach County for their compassionate of Palm Beach County.
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