ELIZABETH "BETTE" WINSTON

FUNERAL HOME

Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, Inc. - Silver Spring

500 University Blvd. West

Silver Spring, Maryland

ELIZABETH WINSTON Obituary

Elizabeth Winston "Bette" (Age 92)
On Saturday, June 23, 2018, of Seaford, DE. Beloved wife of the late Sidney Winston; mother of Larry, Linda and Roger (Karen) Winston; grandmother of Amanda Winston Monschein and Emily Winston; great-grandmother of Maxwell Winston Monschein and Sofie Claire Monschein. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking) on Tuesday, June 26, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mark the Evangelist Church, 7501 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD, on Wednesday, June 27, at 10 am. Interment George Washington Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090.www.COLLINSFUNERALHOME.com

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Published by The Washington Post on Jun. 24, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for ELIZABETH WINSTON

6 Entries

Karen, Roger and Emily Winston and Amanda Winston Monschein

June 27, 2018

Bette (Eema to her grandchildren) was the seventh of nine children born to Ukrainian immigrant parents on a farm in Pennsylvania. She, her brothers and sisters worked very hard on this farm, and were not recipients of the unending gifts and attention that Bette later was able to shower upon her children, grandchildren, and friends. While the work ethic she learned on the farm clearly stuck with her throughout her life, as an adult, she was no longer just one of many, and she relished the opportunity to use her imagination and energy to stand out among the crowd.

She met her husband, Sidney Winston, when she was seventeen years old, he was thirty, and as the story goes, they were married ten days later. In spite of their brief courtship, Bette and Sid together raised three childrenLarry, Linda and Roger and remained deeply devoted to each other until his death nearly fifty years after their marriage. They loved doing things together, including many trips to Jeannette, PA to spend the holidays with her family. Family get-togethers were frequent with an abundance of home-cooked Ukrainian food always being the central theme of these gatherings. They were both very active in the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club. Bette cared for Sid as he suffered several heart attacks during his later years of life. Sid died in 1992 and Bette lived her remaining 26 years without him.

Through all of this, Bettes enormous spirit never faltered. She was an extremely hard worker and continued working as a hairdresser until she began suffering from dementia at the age of 83. She studied to become a beautician while raising three children, and worked for several years at other salons before opening her own. While running her salon, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to begin making trips to New York to purchase womens clothes to sell to her salon clients. Eventually, she turned this into a stand-alone business and opened a clothing store. After the clothing store closed, she began designing and selling gift baskets. And, through all this, she continued working as a hairdresser, eventually at two upscale retirement homes, where she was older than many of her elderly patrons.

Bettes devotion to her work outside the home did not diminish her warmth and generosity as a hostess. And, when she was not a hostess, she was a guest bearing gifts, food, and a strong commitment to helping with the dishes! All of Bettes family and friends have fond memories of pool parties in the summer and Redskins parties in the winter she organized and hosted at her house where the food and drinks were abundant. And, while these parties were wonderful, Christmas was really Bettes time to shine. She regularly purchased a Christmas tree so big that it did not fit in her basement. Undeterred, she would simply chop off the top 1/3 of the tree so that it cleared the ceiling, cover it with a trove of ornaments, lights, and tinsel, and surround it with dozens upon dozens of gifts.

While Bette was unable to exude all of this spirit and generosity in the last months and years of her life, these are the characteristics that defined her life and for which she will be remembered. Now, she can at last enjoy her retirement, reunited with her adoring Sid and her many friends and relatives, freed from the grasp of dementia.

Bob and Bee Blake

June 26, 2018

Aunt Bette. Thank you for loving us all for all those years. Rest in peace in the arms of our Savior.

June 25, 2018

Psalm 90:10 says that the days of our years are 70 years, And if because of special mightiness they are 80 years. May the memories of the wonderful times you shared together bring a smile and joy in your heart.

June 25, 2018

I am from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Seaford and I had been visiting Bette weekly since Nov. 2010. We use to have some lively conversations years ago and I considered her one of my girlfriends. She had a beautiful smile and spirituality and it was my pleasure to visit her and give her Holy Communion. I loved when she use to say "Hi Sweetie" to me. She was not responsive now for quite awhile. I missed the old Bette and it sadden me that she was lost. Now she is at peace. I know Jesus welcomed her with open arms. My condolences to the whole family. Over the years I had only met Larry. You will all be in my prayers. - Geraldine Gallagher

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Dolores Toft

June 24, 2018

So sorry to hear of the loss of "Aunt Bette." She was a large part of Bobby's life. Always giving support and love to all of us. My condolences to your family!

Cindy Young

June 24, 2018

Roger, Linda, and Larry...Sharing in the sadness that you are feeling right now. Hoping that cherished memories will eventually change your sorrow into smiles and laughter. The Stepanik children are all reunited right now...there is joy in heaven. Love as always, Cindy & Rick

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