Elizabeth (Betty) Pierpoline, 94, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on August 3, 2023. She was born in Philadelphia, PA to Marion and Katherine Pavletich. She was predeceased by her loving husband Naldo after 56 years of marriage, as well as her sister Francesca Knell and brother Marion Pavletich. She is survived by her sons David (wife Donna), Robert (wife Lisa), her daughter Kathy (husband Ken), her grandchildren Michael (wife Kristin), Jonathan (wife Taylor), Adam, Abby and Ally. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Bernard Knell and sister-in-law, Judy Pavletich, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Betty grew up in Philadelphia, graduated as Valedictorian from her high school class, and attended the University of Pennsylvania on a scholarship. She graduated with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. She admitted to knitting argyle socks during lectures, which was a bit annoying to the professors. She was a strong believer in education and hard work and encouraged those values for her family. She began teaching elementary school in a suburb of Philadelphia. She met her husband-to-be at a Newman Club meeting where she offered him stale cookies and he was immediately smitten. After several years of courting, they married and had a family in the Philadelphia suburbs. The family moved to Texas for Naldo’s work, and she then returned to the workforce helping ex-pat employees and their families move to or return from work assignments overseas, which was a very rewarding job for her. She and Naldo celebrated the marriages of their 3 kids and welcomed all of the in-laws into the family.  When the grandkids came along, they were involved in their activities, attending games, etc., and always ready to take care of them when they were sick or needed help. She was also quite fond of all the grand-dogs that were part of the family over the years. After retirement, she and Naldo traveled for many years with her sister, Francesca and her husband Bernard to many different places in the US, Canada, and Europe. There are many stories of fun and adventure that went with those travels. She took up watercolor painting and sketching, which she shared with family and friends. She also delighted family and friends with an annual Christmas poem – creative and fun – and wrote other poems to celebrate milestones or provide needed cheer or encouragement.

Family was always the most important thing to Betty. There were routine trips into Philadelphia to see her grandmother and uncle when she lived in Pennsylvania. The big event was the family Christmas Eve get together with her siblings and their families – we all have wonderful memories of those family get-togethers. After the move to Texas, Christmas wasn’t the same, so she and Naldo created a new cherished tradition of having friends and family over for holidays. Betty was always happy to meet new people and gather them into her circle of friends. She made people feel welcome and important, remembering their stories, accomplishments, and struggles. She created strong family bonds with her parents and grandparents, siblings, and their families, and especially her children, grandchildren, and their families. She had a strong, loving marriage to Naldo, setting an example of how love, respect and kindness can build strong, long-lasting relationships. She was always there when others needed help, doing whatever needed to be done. She cared for her mother-in-law for many years when she came to live with the family, and cared for her kids through the typical broken bones and illnesses. She volunteered with a variety of organizations, including Christian Action, which provided food, clothing, etc. to those in need. She went through many challenging medical issues as she got older and met them with grace and determination. She had a way of providing advice and guidance by helping you think through your issues and figure out the solution yourself. She was a very determined, wise and independent woman with a positive attitude towards life.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at The Crossings, Divinity Hospice, Brookdale at Home, and Crowder Funeral Home.

Services will be as follows: Friday, August 11, 10 am – Visitation, 10:30 am – Funeral Mass, 11:30 – Luncheon. These will be at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, TX.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial donation may make them to the Bay Area Turning Point, 210 S. Walnut St., Webster, TX 77598, Interfaith Caring Ministries, 151 Park Ave., League City, TX 77573 or the St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Early Childhood Connection Program, 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 770062.

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.