Betty Miyeko Park

Betty was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 8, 1933, the third of four children to parents, Kazuo and Hatsuno. She and her siblings, George, Henry and Grace, enjoyed an island upbringing and often helped their parents in their grocery store. Despite being sight impaired, she studied music and this passion eventually led her to MacMurray College in Illinois, where she graduated an accomplished pianist. She became a dedicated piano teacher and instilled a love of music in countless students, and eventually her own children.

Betty married Syng-Gi Park in 1956 and they moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois, where they would live for over 50 years. Their three children, Sandra, Bryant and Kathleen, are grateful for Betty's warmth and patience in teaching them piano, violin and cello. She ensured that her children had every opportunity and grew up surrounded with love and music.

An avid gardener, Betty found great joy in tending to her summer gardens and raising beautiful orchids with expert care. In her later years, after relocating to Chester, New Jersey to live with her eldest daughter, Sandra, she rekindled an old passion for knitting. Even without her sight, she became a skilled and prolific knitter and created so many beautiful blankets, handbags and scarves to gift to family and friends. She took great pleasure in customising special pieces for loved ones, but also knit countless beanies to keep cancer patients warm during their chemotherapy treatments.

Betty was proficient in braille, loved reading and current events, and was supremely social. She had life-long friends who she regularly spoke to on the phone. Similarly, she had wonderful relationships with her eight grandchildren, and showed a keen and generous interest in their lives. She was mentally sharp well into her nineties and also physically strong, thanks to her daily exercise routine.

Betty was a cherished mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt and mother-in-law, as well as a dear friend to many. She is survived by her loving children, Sandra, Bryant, and Kathleen; her eight grandchildren, Christian, Lucy, Charlie, Taylor, Nicholas, Andrew, Kathleen and Mia, her sister, Grace, her daughter-in-law, Joan, and a community of friends whose lives she touched deeply. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Henry and George, her son-in-law, Jim, and her husband, Syng-Gi.

A celebration of Betty's life will be held on Sunday, August 23rd at 11:00 am at the Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 1100 Greenleaf Avenue, Wilmette, IL. A burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty's name would be kindly accepted at The Nursing and Staff Education Fund at Northwest Community Hospital:

https://donate.endeavorhealth.org/nch

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