2008 Year in Review

Elizabeth Verdick

ELIZABETH 'BETTY' C. (SIMMS) VERDICK, 90 LOVING WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER ROCKFORD - Elizabeth "Betty" C. (Simms) Verdick, 90, of Rockford died at 8:36 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in Provena Cor Mariae Center.

Born April 13, 1918, in Morrison, the daughter of Lee E. and Zula M. (Ritchie) Whistler. Graduated from Morrison High School in 1936. Married Donald N. Simms on May 16, 1939, in Clinton, Iowa. Donald joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and Betty became active in the war effort by volunteering. They resided in Grass Lake until the death of her husband on Aug. 18, 1953.

Betty and her son returned to Morrison, where she served as deputy circuit clerk for Whiteside County until 1960. Betty managed Mt. Pleasant Fire Insurance Co. until her retirement in 1976. She married Alphonse Verdick, widower on Oct. 29, 1977; he died April 6, 2002. Member of the First Presbyterian Church, Morrison Country Club, Whiteside County Republican Women's Club and a Republican precinct committeeman. In 2002, Betty moved to Rockford to be with her son and grandchildren. In 2007, she moved to Provena Cor Mariae. Betty was a devoted mother, wife and grandmother to her family. She lived life as "a party" filled with humor and kindness. She greeted everyone with a smile and "Hi, Dolly." Betty will be remembered as the "sunshine of our life."

Survivors include son, W. Timothy (Jane) Simms of Rockford; stepsons, James (Penny) Verdick of Portland, Ore., and David Verdick of Morrison; stepdaughters, B.J. (Steve) Curran of Marina del Rey, Calif., Nancy (William) Dornbush of Rockford and Patricia Gerras of Laughlin, Nev.; grandchildren, Timothy (Lilly) Simms of Montana, Jason (Heidi) Simms, Andrea (Vince) DiGiacomo, Michael (Erin) Stiles, Charles Simms and Mary Simms, all of Rockford; stepgrandchildren, Kristin, Daniel and Rachel Verdick, all of Portland, Mathew, Scott and Christopher Verdick, all of Rockford, Dana and Nathan Verdick, both of Morrison; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by parents; husbands; sister, Virginia Minda; and brother, Charles Whistler.

The family would like to express its deep appreciation to the entire staff of Provena Cor Mariae Center for its loving care and kindness to our mother and grandmother.

Service at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, in Delehanty Funeral Home Ltd., 401 River Lane, Loves Park, with visitation from 5 p.m. to time of service; Monsignor Thomas C. Brady, V.G., will officiate. Graveside service at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison; Pastor James Camp of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate.

In memory of Betty, a memorial fund has been established at Provena Cor Mariae Center, 3330 Maria Linden Drive, Rockford, 61114. For more information, visit delehantyfh.com.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
September 28, 2008