ELIZABETH CONSTANTINE Obituary

86, long-time resident of San Dimas, passed away peacefully to be in God's presence on October 22, 2010, at Woods Memorial in La Verne. She was born in La Verne, California in 1924, to Concha and Eliseo Rodriguez. She and her devoted husband, Robert (Bob) were married on February 11, 1945, right after his return from combat in World War II. They celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary in 2008. A graduate of Bonita High School, Chaffey College, and La Verne College, Mrs. Constantine was a loving stay-at-home mother until she went back to school and earned her teaching credential in order to help finance her childrens' college educations. Always involved in the lives of her husband and children, she was a P.T.A. President and Girl Scout leader. She was also a superb cook, and for many years organized food for the annual enchilada dinner at La Verne Heights Elementary School. Mr. Constantine's basketball teams at Emerson Junior High School looked forward every year to the taco feed Mrs. Constantine prepared for them. Also highly anticipated among family and friends was the Constantines' annual tamale dinner at Christmas time. For eighteen years Betty was a Kindergarten teacher. She first taught at Roynon Elementary School in La Verne and then at Ekstrand Elementary School in San Dimas. She was a dedicated teacher who taught herself to play the piano to accompany her students, and was well loved by her pupils and their parents. Mr. and Mrs Constantine joined the First Baptist Church of Pomona in 1956 and attended there with their four children, two of whom are serving abroad as missionaries. She was an active member of the YFNI Sunday School and the Thursday night women's Bible Study. Both athletes, Mr. and Mrs. Constantine shared a love of sports and were often seen at local high school sporting events. They toured the United States visiting major league ballparks and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. They also traveled abroad, taking a 25th anniversary trip to Spain and visiting their daughters in South Asia and Mexico. She is survived by her son, Tim Constantine (Peggy); three daughters, Zora Charles (Les), Priscilla Constantine, and Margaret Grasman (Duane); four grandchildren David Constantine, Daniel Grasman, Stephen Grasman, and Priscilla Grasman; and four great grandchildren Regina, Samuel, Isaiah, and Daniel. A memorial service for Mrs. Constantine will be held at Todd Memorial Chapel in Pomona on Tuesday, November 2, at 11:30 a.m. Anyone wishing to make a contribution in her name is asked to give to Global Impact Ministry at the Pomona First Baptist Church, 586 N. Main Street, Pomona 91768.

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Published by Daily Bulletin on Oct. 31, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for ELIZABETH CONSTANTINE

2 Entries

Vicki & Mike Zollinger

November 1, 2010

Hasta Luego, Aunt Betty

It's a bittersweet thing to tell of our dear, sweet Aunt Betty's passing. We rejoice at her reunion with Uncle Bob, and her family members who've gone before her but we weep at her leaving us behind; kind of like when someone takes the vacation of a lifetime and you aren't invited. Yea, it's like that...
I would love to tell you what Aunt Betty's love has meant in my life but I would need more RAM in my computer. If I were writing it by hand it would take reams of paper. So I'll whittle it down to the most meaningful events. Others will have much to say as well but in the end we will all finish with the same thing..."Aunt Betty loved me the best. I was her favorite niece/nephew!" However, the difference between me and all the others? I knew without a doubt that I was her favorite!
As far back as I can remember I was the person who Aunt Betty came to for a perm or a hairdo. I can hear her now, "Oh, just slap it up!" I was in high school so I'm not sure how it came to be that I was the one doing her hair. It certainly wasn't because I knew what I was doing but I did her hair for years.
She also knew of my love for art and when she started teaching school I would be the one who did all her drawings for her class. My mom caught on to that too and pretty soon I was doing the art for both of them. I could have made a ton of money but I didn't have the heart to take a dime. I loved doing it for both of them and it was something I did well. It was one of the ways I could pay them both back for the trouble I would eventually cause them both.
When I entered college I rebelled! Oh boy did I! Only one time in my life did I ever tell my mom that I hated her. In the end I moved out and it was downhill from there. It was the toughest experience of my life. After being on my own for too long I ended up at at Grandma Rod's but I think Aunt Betty took pity on Grandma and took me to live at her house.
I only remember Tim, Priscilla and Margaret being there. By that time Zora was already on her own I think. Funny, I don't ever recall feeling out of place or unwanted in that house. Aunt Betty treated me with kindness and always made sure I was included in the family events. She even trusted me enough to drive her VW van home from football games. And it was a new van (well, that's how I remember it). The point is, Aunt Betty always had a way of making me feel like I was worth something.
Later, when I started having children, Aunt Betty was always there with my mom to help with cooking and caring for the new baby. She did that for every baby until we moved up to the Bay Area. She also treated my family, particularly my girls, special and in turn they loved to visit her. She loved it when they took the time to take new little ones to see her when they were in California. After my mom and dad were both gone, the girls still made it a point to visit when they could. In turn, there was always something special in the mail at Christmas time and it was always appreciated.
There is just no way to convey what Aunt Betty has meant to all of us and in time we will all be able to tell her ourselves. That is the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the faith that our existence does not end with death. In time we will all be together again. It would be an unbearable thing if it were not so.
So, hasta luego, Aunt Betty; not good bye, but see you in a little while. We know it's true!

Jana Escobar(Zollinger)

November 1, 2010

I love you Aunt Betty! May god be with you til we meet again! Say hello to my Grandma and Grandpa!

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