Elizabeth M. Atherholt, age 87, went home to the Lord peacefully on May 1, 2021 with her daughters and sons-in-law at her side. She was predeceased by her husband Robert Atherholt and is the devoted Mother of Elizabeth Schickling Roantree (Joseph) and Susan Schickling Gallus (Michael) and was predeceased by her sons, Baby Joseph Schickling, Edward Schickling, James Schickling and Joseph Schickling (Linda). Loving Grandmother to Lynn Heeps (Beau), Joseph Gallagher (Ideleen), Sean Gallagher, Courtney Pisnoy (Matthew), Timothy Schickling, Marie Roantree, Elizabeth Roantree (Nick Mizia), and Joseph Roantree. Loving great-grandmother of Lucas, Logan, and Layla Heeps, Joseph Gallagher, James, Matthew and Riley Pisnoy, Gabby and Liam Kaiser. She was predeceased by her parents Vincent (Jimmy) and Margaret Farry.
Betty grew up in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, but as everyone who lives in the city knows, neighborhoods are often defined by Catholic parishes and Betty loved to tell everyone she was from St. Anne’s. She always loved talking about how beautiful St. Anne’s Church is and how her father ran to the church when it caught on fire many years ago to save the Blessed Host.
Betty married in 1954 and went on to have 6 children, eventually going to work as a bookkeeper so she could continue to pay for a Catholic education for her children. Betty was always there for her children and grandchildren and would offer the last dime in her pocket if someone needed it. She was a graduate of Hallahan High School and to this day can recite the song they used to sing on the bus ride home from school. She was devoted to the Blessed Mother and prayed the rosary every night. As her children got older Betty would also pray to Mary every night to bring them all home safely.
Betty loved the beach and could sit for hours soaking up the sun. She loved diving in the waves to cool off and her grandchildren were always shocked to see her ride the waves into the surf. When it became too difficult to go to the beach every day when she lived at the Regency Towers in North Wildwood, she would sit by the pool with all her friends, swimming with her pool noodle to stay afloat and drinking cocktails.
For the past 2-1/2 years, Betty lived at Traditions of Crosskeys, an assisted living facility and thrived in their community. She loved doing arts and crafts and decorating for the holidays. She was a member of their choir and was loved by everyone who knew her. Betty was the life of the party, always telling stories and singing Frank Sinatra songs. She became very close to a lot of the residents there and recently her group of friends was named the “Golden Girls”.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, funeral services and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in her name to St. Anne Catholic Church, 2328 E. Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125.
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