Betty Waltersdorf (Lisle, Illinois) went quietly in her sleep on April 13th, 2024, while visiting her family in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Family and friends are deeply shocked by the sudden passing of this one-of-a-kind personality. She was only 70 years old.

Betty was born on July 27th, 1953 to parents, Antoni and Filomena Tekien. She experienced her early childhood years amidst the rural Polish countryside in and around Mońki, her hometown in northeastern Poland. Tough economic times followed in the years after World War II for many Poles, where her father Antoni would eventually immigrate (with family to follow) to the United States in 1963/64, to find a better life for his family in Chicago, Illinois.

While in Chicago, adjusting to American life and a new language was challenging for Betty but her resilient spirit never faltered and always pushed through. She made life-long friends in her early high school years and those early bonds never broke in the decades to follow.

More than anything in her life though, Betty yearned to be a mother and she finally became one with the birth of her daughter Jennifer in 1978. Michael would follow 10 years later in 1988, and Steven would follow a mere 10 months later in 1989. Betty embraced motherhood in all its forms: from the cooking of home-made meals, to the driving around to doctor appointments & piano lessons, to the endless loads of laundry & clothes shopping… She only wanted the best for her children and nobody could do it better.

But the most important moment of her life came on July 26th, 1986, when she married the love of her life, her late husband, David Waltersdorf. They were complete opposites in all things religion (Catholic vs. Lutheran), personality (passionate vs. calm), and dancing ability (if you ever went to a wedding with these two, you already know the answer) but somehow showed us how unconditional love really works. They were friends, confidantes, and an inseparable entity that exemplified how opposites could really bring out the best in each other. Even with Dave's leukemia diagnosis later in life, her love grew for him the more she had to take care of him. Betty's tireless care exuded everything that a caretaker should be. When Dave passed away in 2020, many believe a portion of her heart and soul died with him that day.

Betty loved, among many things: stuffed cabbage (gołąbki), pickled herring, her Polish heritage, making salads, yard work, cleaning her house, taking care of her grandchildren, and most of all, hosting parties on her terms.

Betty is survived by her three children: Jennifer (with husband Evan Brown), Michael (with wife Rebecca Waltersdorf), and Steven (with wife Molly Waltersdorf); her sister Helen Tylka; and her five beloved grandchildren: Hugo, Dashiel, Nora, Beatrice, and Leo.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents Antoni and Filomena Tekien; her eldest sister Alina Tekien; and her dearest husband David Waltersdorf.

A celebration of life and final party at Betty's beloved house will be held this upcoming July. Final details will be sent out in the coming weeks. Thanks to all for the thoughts and prayers during this painful time.

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