Bette Christman

Mom, Grandma, friend – Bette Jayne (Flaherty) Christman, 85 passed away Monday, July 7,2003, at Golden Place in St. Joseph after a lengthy illness. Bette’s family will receive visitors Wednesday, July 9th from 6-8p.m. at Starks and Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, where a Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, July 10th at 11a.m., with Rev Dr. Bob Braman of The First Congregational Church of St. Joseph, where Bette was a member, will conduct the service. Burial will be in North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home or Berrien County Cancer Service. Friends wishing to share a memory or sign the guest-book on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Born Jan 8, 1918 in Canton, Ohio. Bette will be remembered for many things, including the enjoyment she derived from crossword puzzles, reading, dancing, golf, travel, and especially time with family and friends at our beaches watching sunsets or walking her dear companion BJ. Most of all, she will be remembered for the love of her family. Whether she was having a glass of wine with a holiday meal or a cup of coffee afterward, Bette cherished the time spent surrounded by her children, her five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Bette married Howard Christman on December 10,1937, and they had two daughters, Judy and Nancy. Howard died on October 15, 1983. Bette also was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, William Flaherty and sister Patricia Littel. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Judith and Ronald Zacha of Benton Harbor and Nancy and Ronald Gaynor of St. Joseph, and her brother Robert Flaherty of Watervliet. Her grandchildren are Catherine Averill and husband Glenn of St. Joseph; and her brother Mark Zacha of Grand Rapids; Tracy Lipsitt and husband Eric of Exeter, NH; Rebecca DuPree and her husband James of Burlington, N.C.; and Scott Gaynor and his wife Christine of Mauldin, S.C. Bette’s great-grandchildren are – Palmer and Samantha Averill, Madeline, Katrina and Adam Zacha, Lindsay and Andrea Gaynor, Griffin, Lexie and Zachary DuPree, and Kaitlyn and Ryan Lipsitt. Bette also will be missed dearly by her constant friend, Burleen Sexton. They were known among friends and family as St. Joseph’s version of Siskel and Ebert, offering reviews of current movie releases. They also were known to critique the food after one of their frequent meals at local restaurants. Vacations with family members often filled Bette’s time. Traveling with Judy or Nancy to visit one or all of the grandkids in Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire or Georgia; no where was too far for Bette to visit her grandkids. Bette retired from Whirlpool Corporation in 1982 after more that 40 years, but she never stopped working. An active member in Kappa Theta Chi sorority participating in many style shows and Christmas open houses. Bette loved volunteering in the coffee shop at Lakeland Hospital where she always had a smile or a soft word for those in need. Bette battled and beat cancer three times, most recently in 1997 – never complaining not giving up on the life she cherished.