Obituary for Betty-Jane Festen
Betty-Jane Festen (nee Adams) of Elgin, IL. Beloved wife of the late Jack I. Festen (1923-1992), loving mother of Barbara ‘Babs’ Heinz, Paul Festen, Jack (Kathy) Festen, Daniel Festen and Betsy (Kevin) Little; Grandmother to Chris, Jeff, Brandi, Dustin, Ali and Kiley; Great-Grandmother to Camden, Rylen, Remy and Zoey; Aunt of many nieces & nephews.
Betty-Jane was a strong, devoted and loving wife, mother, daughter, aunt, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor and friend. At the age of 96, she went to be with the Lord on Monday, January 23, 2023 - it was peaceful and pain free with her sharp mind, wit and sense of humor intact. Born to John and Lena Adams on July 25, 1926 in Chicago, IL, Betty-Jane (or B.J., but NEVER Betty) was the second of four children and only sister of her brothers - John, Bill and Bob. Raised in the south side of Chicago, she was a 1944 graduate of Fenger High School and graduated from the National College of Education in Evanston in 1947. B.J. student taught at the revered Jane Addams Hull House and the Latin School for Boys and went on to teach for ten years.
Of all her many accomplishments, B.J. was most proud of her family. She married the love of her life Jack, on December 5, 1953. Together, they raised their five children, Babs, Paul, Jack, Danny and Betsy in South Holland, IL, while running their successful, family-owned delicatessen and catering business, Hickory Hills Farms. B.J. and Jack moved their family to Princeton, IL until the late 80’s, when they settled in Elgin, IL. B.J. will be remembered for her unwavering Catholic faith, generous giving heart, level-headed advice and upbeat sense of humor. She loved all things Hungarian, including food, culture and music. She checked off bucket list items most only dream of, including flying a plane, traveling the world, playing slots in Vegas and bonding with her great-grandchildren. Some of her favorite pastimes were reading, watching Hallmark Channel and Magnum P.I., breaking bread with loved ones, playing the penny slots at the boat, listening to music from the 40’s, indulging her boundless sweet tooth with impressive gusto (enter Fannie May’s Maple Creams, etc.), praying, talking to and surrounding herself with family and friends, to name a few. You could always find B.J. tapping her fingers and/or singing along to “the music playing in her head” and count on her to tell you like it is.
Betty-Jane showed us the way through her unrelenting strength, propensity and commitment for giving and generous heart. We are all eternally grateful and she is forever in our hearts. Go with God.
Visitation Saturday, February 11, 2023, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church at 845 W. Main Street, West Dundee, IL 60118. Funeral mass to follow at 11:00 a.m. Info @ https://www.millerfuneralhomedundee.com/obituary-listing or (847) 426-3436. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in B.J.’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Betty-Jane was a strong, devoted and loving wife, mother, daughter, aunt, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor and friend. At the age of 96, she went to be with the Lord on Monday, January 23, 2023 - it was peaceful and pain free with her sharp mind, wit and sense of humor intact. Born to John and Lena Adams on July 25, 1926 in Chicago, IL, Betty-Jane (or B.J., but NEVER Betty) was the second of four children and only sister of her brothers - John, Bill and Bob. Raised in the south side of Chicago, she was a 1944 graduate of Fenger High School and graduated from the National College of Education in Evanston in 1947. B.J. student taught at the revered Jane Addams Hull House and the Latin School for Boys and went on to teach for ten years.
Of all her many accomplishments, B.J. was most proud of her family. She married the love of her life Jack, on December 5, 1953. Together, they raised their five children, Babs, Paul, Jack, Danny and Betsy in South Holland, IL, while running their successful, family-owned delicatessen and catering business, Hickory Hills Farms. B.J. and Jack moved their family to Princeton, IL until the late 80’s, when they settled in Elgin, IL. B.J. will be remembered for her unwavering Catholic faith, generous giving heart, level-headed advice and upbeat sense of humor. She loved all things Hungarian, including food, culture and music. She checked off bucket list items most only dream of, including flying a plane, traveling the world, playing slots in Vegas and bonding with her great-grandchildren. Some of her favorite pastimes were reading, watching Hallmark Channel and Magnum P.I., breaking bread with loved ones, playing the penny slots at the boat, listening to music from the 40’s, indulging her boundless sweet tooth with impressive gusto (enter Fannie May’s Maple Creams, etc.), praying, talking to and surrounding herself with family and friends, to name a few. You could always find B.J. tapping her fingers and/or singing along to “the music playing in her head” and count on her to tell you like it is.
Betty-Jane showed us the way through her unrelenting strength, propensity and commitment for giving and generous heart. We are all eternally grateful and she is forever in our hearts. Go with God.
Visitation Saturday, February 11, 2023, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church at 845 W. Main Street, West Dundee, IL 60118. Funeral mass to follow at 11:00 a.m. Info @ https://www.millerfuneralhomedundee.com/obituary-listing or (847) 426-3436. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in B.J.’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).