Obituary of Elizabeth J. Dearlove

Elizabeth Jeanette Dearlove (nee' Lopez) unexpectedly went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 28th, 2023. Her eldest Son, Randy, was by her side.

Legacy

Betty was born on January 6th, 1938, to Dorothy and Albert “Pete” Lopez. A cherished only child, she spent her girlhood with her parents in National Park, surrounded by a loving extended family, including her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Betty attended the National Park Elementary School and was a proud member of the class of 1955 at Woodbury High School. Many of Betty’s childhood playmates and high school classmates remained her dearest life-long friends, and Betty was instrumental in organizing WHS Class of 1955 reunions throughout her life.

On June 4th, 1956, Betty married Francis Dearlove. They settled in West Deptford, where they raised their three children, Randy, Paula and Thomas. A busy, active wife and mother, Betty supported her family in all their activities, serving as a Cub Scout den mother, WDHS band parent, classroom volunteer all while making a beautiful and welcoming home for her family, and working as an executive secretary for many years.

In 2004, Betty and Franny moved to Avalon to spend their retirement years enjoying the quiet beauty of the Jersey Shore, while lovingly caring for her parents. Betty was always happiest at the shore, with bare feet and sand between her toes, and found joy in welcoming friends and family to her home on the bay in Avalon Manor over the years. She cherished the many days spent at the shore with her granddaughters, Honor and Audrey, and established a tradition of swimming with them in the bay at least once every summer. Betty’s love of the sun and shore extended to the Florida coast, where she and Franny vacationed every winter. Even after Franny’s death, Betty continued to spend the winter months in Melbourne Beach, Florida, where she enjoyed strolling to “the river” to read on sunny days.

Betty was an excellent cook and baker, and was especially well known for baking treats to share with family, friends and neighbors. She also enjoyed creating scrapbooks for her granddaughters, needlework and other crafts, and was an avid jigsaw puzzler and reader.

Family

Betty was predeceased by her beloved husband, Francis Dearlove, and her devoted parents Dorothy and Pete Lopez. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her children Randall Dearlove of Avalon, Paula Dearlove (fiancé Frederick Kaehler) of Mantua, and Thomas Dearlove and his wife, Catherine, of Wilmington, Delaware. Betty’s granddaughters, Honor and Audrey Dearlove, were the light of her life, and she will forever be remembered by them as their beloved “mom-mom.”

In addition to her family, Betty leaves behind many dear friends, including Jim Husted of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota; Ruthie Costello of Woodbury; and others too numerous to mention.

Farewell Tribute

Family and friends are invited to call on the family to remember Betty on Friday, October 6th, 2023 from 10:00AM to 12:00PM in the McGuinness Funeral Home- (Woodbury Location) 34 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096. Service to follow at 12:00PM and Interment Eglington Cemetery Clarksboro, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty’s name may be made to the Avalon Free Public Library at 235 32nd St, Avalon, NJ 08202.

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