Betty Jean Ashton

A sweet soul now watches over us. Betty Jean Ashton (Jackson) passed away at 97, surrounded by the love and care of family. After more than 63 years of marriage to Bayard (Bert) Lowell Ashton, she is now reunited with him and their infant daughter, Lynn Renee.

Betty grew up in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood and attended Fenger High School. She met Bert at a roller rink, and he later said he knew from that first meeting that he would marry her. She is survived by her four children: Blair Lowell Ashton of St. John, IN; Barbara Jean Iwinski of Lowell, IN; Beth Ellen Mierzwa Manta (John) of LaGrange, IL; and Bradley Allen Ashton of Crete, IL. She also found great joy in her four beloved adult grandchildren: Helena Mierzwa, Jaime Ashton (DalPolo, Nick), Rebecca Iwinski, and Matt Iwinski.

After they married, Betty lived in Hazel Crest before moving to the Serena Hills area of Chicago Heights, where she lived from 1965 to 2004. In 2004, she and Bert moved to St. John, Indiana. During the 22 years she lived on Homestead Village Court, family members regularly came and went, always looking after her.

Betty was a longtime member of St. Mark United Church of Christ in Chicago Heights, Illinois, where she became the church’s first female Board President. She deeply loved her church community. Each year at the Women’s Guild Christmas ornament exchange, she delighted everyone by reading Twas The Night Before Christmas, with ornaments passed whenever she said “the.” In recent years, her family brought that tradition into their own holiday celebration, sharing laughter as Grandma read despite her hearing loss and slipping dentures. Those moments became some of their most cherished memories. Betty worked for many years as a nursing assistant in OB-GYN and neurology in Chicago Heights, IL and she volunteered on the local boards of Habitat for Humanity and PADS. Betty was also an avid reader and patron of her local library, sometimes reading two books a week.

One of Betty’s greatest blessings was meeting her half-sisters, Cheryl Usalis of Frankfort, IL, and Cindy Mrotek of St. Charles, IL. After her parents divorced while she was in college, her father went on to have two daughters. The three knew only that the others existed until an extraordinary series of events brought them together. At 94, Betty finally met her sisters, who loved her deeply. After a lifetime as an only child, she had gained a larger family.

Betty, our mom, grandma, and dear friend, will be remembered for her sweet smile, kind words, and lifelong devotion to the Golden Rule: treat others as you wish to be treated. Hug our loved ones—and all our beloved dogs and cats—until we meet again. We love you.

Celebration of Life Service will be held at Skyline Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 24800 Governors Highway, Monee, IL 60449 on Saturday, August 29th, 2026. Visitation from 12-2, Service and graveside memorial at 2pm. In honor of Betty’s love of reading a donation may be made to the Lake County Public Library Fund: https://legacyfdn.org/blog/2020/03/06/lake-county-public-library-fund/