Elizabeth "Betty" Lopatesky

CHESTER - Elizabeth "Betty" Lopatesky, of Chester, died Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at Morristown Medical Center. She was 83.

Mrs. Lopatesky was a lifelong resident of Sparta. Her father, Fred Spoolstra, was the first Chief of Police in Sparta where she met her husband, Ray, who after returning from military service in World War II worked for her farther as a police officer.

Mrs. Lopatesky was employed for several years as a secretary at Limestone Corporation in Layfayette, and for the past 11 years worked as a part-time cook at Nazareth Village Pristes Retirement Center in Chester. Mostly, she was a home maker. She moved from her home in Sparta to Chester in 2011.

Mrs. Lopatesky was a kind, gentle person, quick witted and welcoming, who made everyone who met her feel as if they had known her for years. She enjoyed the simple things of life, her home, cooking, sewing, having dinner parties, travel, crossword puzzles, Curves and the New York Giants. Her greatest joy was being with her family and friends. She was particularly devoted to her children, grandchild and to the senior priests at Nazareth Village. She was a parishioner of St. Lawrence the Martyr Church in Chester.

Mrs. Lopatesky was predeceased by her husband, Ray, who died in 1995. She is survived by her son, Monsignor Ray Lopatesky, of Chester; her daughters, Susan Hedden and her husband, Richard, of Centre Hall, Pa., Sheryl Biron of Lafayette; and four grandchildren, Michael Biron, Elizabeth Biron, Morgan Hedden and James Hedden.

Visitation will be at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta, Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will take place at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, Main St., Chester, Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Nazareth Village, P.O. Box 635, Chester, N.J. 07930; or Hampton Township Education Foundation-Mike Biron Field of Dreams, 2 Sid Taylor Road, Lafayette, N.J. 07848.