Elizabeth Opferman

Elizabeth "Betty" Opferman was, above all things, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She passed quietly at home surrounded by her family following a courageous and prolonged fight against cancer.
She was born on February 23, 1943, in Butler, PA. to late Raymond and Rose Virgili and wed to David C. Opferman on February 19, 1966. Both her and David lived in Pittsburgh, PA while he attended school at the University of Pittsburgh receiving his Ph.D.
She is survived by her husband, 4 children, and 7 grandchildren, all of whom reflect her compassion, sensitivity, insight and strength both as parents and as adults. Stephen (Susan), Anthony (Darcy), Michael (Kim) and Sarah (Tim) have always known Betty to be the center of her family. She was a tenacious mother seldom letting anything slide. She leaves behind a doting family, each of whom will each miss her in so many different ways.
After leaving Pittsburgh, PA in 1967, she and David moved to Red Bank, NJ where David began working at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Betty gave birth to both Stephen in 1969 and Anthony in 1971. While excited to be a new mother and relatively close to her family in Butler, PA, she embarked on an adventure, and with her now expanding family, moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1973. Over the next 9 years, she would give birth to 2 more children, Michael in 1974 and Sarah in 1976. Now complete, her epic life-long work began in earnest. Now complete, Betty and her family moved to St. Charles in 1982. Raising 4 children and creating a home-life that would later lead to 7 grandchildren and many precious memories for which we are all eternally grateful.
Her grandchildren were always enamored with her diverse and expansive collections. Whether that be her extensive doll, bear, statue, Santa Claus or other collections, she always strived for completeness. She was sentimental. The collections each represented something different to her, including which trip to the casino had paid for which particular collectable, that is of course on the rare occasion David had not bought it for her.
Betty was no stranger to the kitchen. After years of growing up Italian, in a house which frequently offered an aromatic journey to the casual passerby, her delicious spaghetti meatballs left us always wanting more. She always had an ear for you, true, she did like to pull those from time to time, but she was a very good listener. Selfless in many ways, she seldom shied away from asking about your day, the kids or just about anything else. She loved to hear her family describe their challenges, accomplishments, and goals, if for no other reason, than to have an opportunity to provide her own sense of encouragement and support. She also provided her own nuanced sense of criticism in an effort to keep us each focused on what mattered most.
As a wife, she was an equal partner, providing the structure, discipline, and values commensurate with the family life both her and David desired while enabling her husband to excel professionally. She frequently enjoyed joining David on many of the +1 business trips internationally. From Italy to England, she frequently would share stories from all her trips.
Lovingly thankful and forever grateful, your family.
Visitation will be 3-5:00 P.M. Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Yurs Funeral Home 405 E. Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois 60174. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Monday, February 6, 2023, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 2900 E. Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois 60174. Burial will be at Union Cemetery, St. Charles, Illinois.