My mom's obituary

[firecat]

We had my Mom's obituary published in the Ottawa, Illinois, newspaper.

http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/print_display.php?id=425467


Elizabeth (Betty) Herring Mills Jones died Feb. 6 in San Mateo, Calif., due to complications of Alzheimer's disease. She was 89.

Betty was born in Ottawa on May 14, 1921, to Richard D. Mills and Grace Herring Mills. Betty was raised in Ottawa with her brothers, Robert "Bob" and Dan, and her sister, Barbara. She graduated from the Emma Willard School in New York in 1939 and received her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College in 1943, where she did honors research in physiology. She earned a master's degree in physiology at Northwestern University in Chicago in 1946.

Betty taught at Barnard College in New York City, and subsequently developed and administered the Liver Research Laboratory at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago under the direction of Dr. Richard B. Capps. The laboratory's research work added greatly to the understanding of the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of Viral Hepatitis A.

Betty married Don P. Jones, M.D., in 1959. The couple lived in New York City and Cambridge, Mass., while Don completed his post-graduate medical training; they then settled in Grosse Pointe, Mich. Betty volunteered at the Grosse Pointe Public Library and was active in the Wellesley College Alumnae group. After Don's retirement, Betty and Don moved to Belmont, Calif., where they joined the Friends of the Belmont Library and enjoyed their part in the development and building of the new Belmont Library.

Betty is survived by her husband, Don P. Jones of San Mateo, Calif.; her daughter, Elizabeth (Stef) Jones Maruch of San Carlos, Calif.; and seven nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Robert Mills, Daniel Mills and Barbara Tuite.

Comments

[laughingrat]

That's a good obituary--interesting to hear about her scientific work, which I hadn't known about before.

Seeing your mom's picture, and how engaged and lively she obviously was, I'm sad and angry that this disease took that from her, and took her from you.

[firecat]

It's definitely a nasty disease. At least she lived many reasonably healthy years without it first.

Thank you.

[alphaviolet]

You just said exactly what I was going to say.

[sasha_feather]

Sounds like she was an awesome lady. I'm sorry for your loss.

[firecat]

She was pretty special.

Thank you.

[dhara]

She sounds like quite a lady! I didn't know about her teaching and her work in science - my God, she was simply extraordinary, wasn't she?

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[firecat]

She was successful in all the ways that count.

Thank you.

[merielle]

What an amazing woman. I'm so glad she was in the world, and so sorry for your loss.

[firecat]

Thank you.

[jesse_the_k]

What a lively smile to go with a shining mind. My condolences to you.

[firecat]

Thank you.

[amethystfirefly]

She sounds like she was a wonderful person.

-offers a hug-

[firecat]

{hugsback}

Thank you.

[aquaeri]

I had no idea your mother had such an illustrious career; it makes the Alzheimer's seem worse somehow.

(I have a very petty brain: Betty and Don makes me think of Betty and Don Draper from Mad Men, although I fully realise your parents were first! Given when they got married, it does suggest the Mad Men creators had a good sense of names in the era.)

[firecat]

Thank you.

I know what you mean about the Alzheimers. It's especially sad when a disease robs a person of something that matters so much to who they are.

That's interesting about Mad Men. I'm not familiar with the show but I'll have to check it out.

[aquaeri]

Yes, I know what you mean about a disease robbing a person of something very important to them - I had a friend who ultimately died of metastases of tongue cancer, but at a previous stage had had most of his tongue removed. And he was someone for whom not being able to speak was, well, he was in agony and those of us who knew him were in agony, and argh.

I've been thinking about writing some stuff about Mad Men, it's a complex show which tends to induce extreme reactions, so you may not like it. (What I've written so far is here). I'll note that as far as I can tell, your parents bore/bear no resemblance to Betty and Don Draper in terms of personalities and dynamics. It's just the same names.

[firecat]

From that post: "wow, what is our current era going to look like once it gets dissected like this in 50 years time?"

I think about this a lot. Especially because I'm turning 50 next year and it's already started as far as the era of my childhood is concerned.

(I find it amusing, puzzling, and revolting all at once that a lot of what my childhood era looks like, now that it's being dissected, is a fashion inspiration.)

[aquaeri]

Well, then you might be particularly attracted and/or repelled by Mad Men since it's that era the show is dealing with. (I think the very first season is 1960, then 1961, 1963 - they don't do every year exactly. And I don't know how far they intend to keep going, but the show is definitely not fixed at one time point.)

There are very definitely people who watch the show because the clothes and set designs are so authentic and believable, kicking into that fashion inspiration you mention. But it's the people who are living in those surroundings that fascinate me most, the way so many of them seem trapped and invisibly miserable even to themselves.

Part of what I admire about the show is how it can manage to both seem so true to and yet so critical of the early 60s.

[nitoda]

What a beautiful photograph - your mother was clearly a wonderful person and passed on a lot of that to you, as well as leaving a lasting legacy through her academic work. You must be very proud of her. (oh, all right then, you don't *have* to be proud of her ... it's not an actual order ... but ... ) ;-)

[firecat]

Thank you. I am proud of her and glad that she was successful in so many of the ways that mattered to her.

[flarenut]

Thanks for posting this. So much that usually gets lost.

[tedesson]

I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you and your father are able to comfort each other.

I'm impressed with her scientific career. That was a difficult time to even consider becoming a woman scientist, let alone as successful as she was.

[eggcrack]

She was quite a woman. I'm sorry for your loss.

[graymalkin13.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥♥♥

[firecat]

♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥

[jinian.livejournal.com]

It's a good obituary. I hadn't realized she had a master's in science -- even more impressive for a woman in the 40s.

[firecat]

It sure was. Thank you.

[susanstinson.livejournal.com]

It looks like such a full, engaged life.

[firecat]

She was really engaged in everything she did. Thank you.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing this. It definitely leaves you feeling she packed a lot into her life.

[firecat]

She was successful in many of the ways that mattered to her, yes.

Thank you.

[ailbhe]

I hope to come back and read this when I'm well. She sounds awesome but I know I'm not taking it in properly.

[firecat]

Thank you. I hope you feel better soon.

[loracs.livejournal.com]

What a accomplished woman your mom was.

FYI: I spent time in Ottawa because my dad's sister and her family lived there. My 2nd cousin is still running the family farm.

[firecat]

Thank you.

My cousins are still there running the family farm too. I think you and I once established that our cousins knew each other. Small world!

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Very nice -- info about your mom and an indication of how you feel about her.

[firecat]

Thank you.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Hugs and condolences...

[firecat]

{hugsback} Thank you.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

She sounds like an intelligent and remarkable woman. I'm sorry for your loss.

[firecat]

She was pretty smart and accomplished all right.

Thank you.

[opalmirror.livejournal.com]

She sounded like a woman who had lead a full life - well-educated, respected, loved by a devoted partner, bringing children into the world, and making the world a better place. I am glad to have met her, and wish that you find much solace in the priceless contribution she made to all of us in her life. Hugs and much love.

[firecat]

{hugsback} Yes, I think she did a lot of the things that mattered to her, and passed on to me much of her sense of what did matter.

Thank you.

[innerdoggie.livejournal.com]

This is a very good obituary.

You once mentioned she had done something during WWII. If you ever feel like telling the story, I would be interested in hearing it.

[firecat]

Thank you.

She didn't do anything directly connected to the war, but her brother Bob did. The last year of her life she often told a story about how she went to visit Bob and he picked her up at the train station in a military staff car, which he wasn't supposed to do, so she had to crouch down and hide on the floor of the back seat while he drove.

[prairierabbit.livejournal.com]

An excellent obituary, Stef. Thanks for sharing her with us. ***hugs***

I know Ottawa well, since it's only about an hour away from me. I didn't realize your family had links to Illinois. As others have noted, she achieved a great deal, and given the time period that took even more determination than it would today. To me it seems really important to tell these sorts of life stories, to let others know what is possible and remind us of the breadth of experiences of women who preceded us. Thanks again for sharing her story!