SARAH ELIZABETH "BETTY" RIDDELL

RIDDELL, SARAH ELIZA-BETH "BETTY" - We gratefully celebrate the life of Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) Riddell. Gentle in spirit, but firm in action, Betty went to be with her Lord on Sunday, October 10, 2010. She was born at home in West Philadelphia on June 7, 1914, and grew up in Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania with her six brothers and sisters as the second daughter of James and Sarah Kelso. She was always "going home" when she returned for visits to the Kelso farm. After graduating with honors from Landsdowne High School in 1933, she worked as a cashier for the American Store. On October 13, 1937, Betty married the love of her life, Harry Riddell, a twinkling-eyed Irishman. In 1939 they moved to Oxford Avenue in Ventnor, which became her home for the next 71 years. Raising her family was her primary focus until 1951, when she also became the bookkeeper and administrator of the newly formed Riddell Pest and Termite Control. After Harry passed way in 1970, Betty went to work as receptionist and assistant to Dr. Milman, an Atlantic City Podiatrist. Joy in serving her Lord radiated through everything. As a member of Chelsea Presbyterian Church, she played the piano, taught and was superintendent of Sunday School and was active in Vacation Bible School. She participated in a chapter of the YWCA and hosted a children's Bible club at her home. Since 1961, she has been an active member, treasurer, deacon and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City (now Victory First Presbyterian Deliverance Church) where she has been honored many times. Betty and Harry put all three of their children through college and expressed great pride in their accomplishments as a Presbyterian Clergyman, U.S. Navy nurse and a Pleasantville High School teacher. As a child of the depression, life circumstances precluded her from fulfilling her aspiration to become a school teacher, so it was especially meaningful to her that her daughter and son-in-law chose teaching as a profession. She enjoyed her senior years as she continued to welcome friends and her expanding family to the Ventnor shore, as she showed off her talents in the Kitchen Band of the Downbeach Women's Club and in participating as a charter member of the Atlantic City Presbyterian Mission Council. Her joy in life was expressed in her warm and well-kept home and her bright and well-tended garden. Betty is predeceased by her husband, Harry Riddell; her parents James and Sarah Kelso; five brothers and sisters; William, Margaret, James, Mildred and Joseph; and by her son-in-law, Leo Polisano. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Simpson-Lipka; her son, Jim and his wife, Karen and by her two daughters, June Riddell and Carolyn Polisano; four grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. A service to celebrate her life will be conducted by Reverend Charles Lyles, assisted by Reverend H. James Riddell, at the Victory First Presbyterian Deliverance Church at Pennsylvania and Pacific Avenues in Atlantic City on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 5:00 PM preceded by a time for a viewing and visitation beginning at 3:00 PM. A second service will be held at the Toppitzer Funeral Home on the grounds of the Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, PA on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 11:00 AM preceded by an hour for viewing and visitation. Interment will follow at Arlington. Betty and her family are grateful for everyone who has participated in her care. Memorial tributes may be made to: Leo A. Polisano Scholarship Fund to Joan Robinson C/O Pleasantville Middle School, 801 Mill Road, Pleasantville, NJ 08232 or to the Victory First Presbyterian Deliverance Church, P. O. Box 7265, Atlantic City, NJ 08404 or to another charity of your choosing. Arrangements are entrusted to and written condolences may be sent to: www.Adams-Perfect.com. Thanks be to God for the life and legacy of Betty Riddell.