Obituary of Betty Brightwell Fain

Betty Brightwell Fain – 18 June, 1925 to 15 October 2018

“I didn’t edit this, so don’t blame me.”

Betty Fain was born in Anthony, Kansas, but grew up in the Ozarks from when she was two months old.  As a child she dreamt of living on tropical islands and did: Hawaii, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.  “They all suited me.”

She married Big Al, The People’s Pal, and raised two children, Cheryl and Steven, both of whom survived her, along with their kids and grandkids.

Betty and Al moved to Roaming Shores in 1983 and it became their final home.  They were active in the community, and loved Ohio.

They planted 150 trees on their third-of-an-acre property.  Not all of trees survived Betty, but more than enough.

Betty had a green thumb, and an even sweeter personality.  She was beloved by all who knew her.

Mom had many nicknames: GGB for Great Grandma Betty; The Legend; Grandmacita; and many others.  Our favorite is The Legend.  She survived cancer three times, had two heart stints, and ultimately congestive heart failure wore her down.  She rebounded from many setbacks in the last year, surprising us all each time.

Betty loved to play games, and did: cribbage, scrabble, chicken foot, Mexican train, and especially bridge.  She was good at all of them, especially bridge.

She had the most beautiful handwriting.  She developed that as a youth, when good script was encouraged.  It was a form of art for her.  She loved to write letters and short notes, and did often.  She wrote many cards of encouragement, birthday greetings, and condolences for her church.  Many of you were recipients of these.

Mom was precocious as a child, graduating high school at 16.  She was a college graduate before many women went to college.  Her memory was superior to the very end, as was her sense of humor.  Even as she failed she could recite poems and songs from her youth, and her humor was at play even in hospice care at the end.  She spoke more Spanish than you would expect, and her Spanish vocabulary was impressive.

Betty led by example, and didn’t want attention.  She was an environmentalist before it was a movement, and loved the Earth we live on, including all its peoples and organic life.  She loved to watch nature programs on TV.

She was prepared.  She had long since made peace with God, and was ready to go.  She lasted longer than any could have expected.  Her affairs were in order, with a checklist left for the kids.  She died in her home, in her sleep, at 93.  She was amazing, and is sorely missed.  She is right now where she wanted to be.

“Thank you for your attention.  This is longer than I wanted.”

“And I am so grateful to be survived by all of my immediate family: Cheryl Fain and Mike Gambol; their kids, Lee Gambol, Destrey Gambol, and Shawna and Dan Woodard; the Woodard kids, Elijah, Anna and Joseph Woodard; Steve and Mo Fain, and their girls, Audra and Camille Fain.  Thank you so much for your love and affection.  GGB”

Betty’s celebration of life: Rock Creek Community United Methodist Church.

3210 N Main Street, Rock Creek 44084; Nov. 10, 2018, 11:00 AM; fellowship after.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Country Neighbor, 39 S Maple St. Orwell, OH 44076