Elizabeth H. "Betsy" (nee Distram) Crowe

Elizabeth Hauke “Betsy” Crowe, 89, formerly of Park Ridge, IL and longtime resident at Glen Lake, MI. Beloved wife of John Edwin “Jack,” who left us way too early in 1994. Loving mother of Tom (Marianne), Dan (Ewa), Maggie (the late Charles) Schoenfeld, Tim (Joan) and Molly (Dave) Bratt. Dear grandmother of Allison (Shawn) McMahon, Caitlyn Schoenfeld, Laura (Tyler) Streb, Tim, Charlie, Sean and Samantha Crowe, Jackie and Carlyn Bratt. Great-grandmother of Christie Streb. Visitation Sunday, January 23, 2022, from 1-4 p.m., Ryan-Parke Funeral Home,120 S. Northwest Hwy., Park Ridge, IL. Service at 4 p.m. (the service can be viewed via live stream at www.memorialslive.com/crowe). In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Glen Lake Woman's Club, P.O. Box 564, Glen Arbor, MI 49636.

Betsy led a full life, a homemaker who raised her family honing her cooking and “taxi” service skills for her children and their friends during the day—her needlepoint and bridge-playing skills when other time allowed. Betsy had a keen eye and interest in dress, art, antiques and gardening.

And whimsy! The Chicago-born daughter of a German painter, John (mother Frieda) Distram, Betsy crafted paper dolls with uncanny accuracy, could whip up caricatures of people with such delightful flare, and painted like one of the greats in the stipple and impressionist style. Her favorite artist was Van Gogh; she cried at his art depicted in the recent movie At Eternity’s Gate. Betsy was shy about her painting, her gift rarely put out in any real public sense.

Betsy was forever curious about people. She always had a way of making an ordinary encounter extraordinary. Her son Tom remembers driving along M-22 and mom pointed out the guy in the car in front of them who had invented the pop tart. True story!

Family, friends and neighbors will always remember Betsy for her quick wit and comebacks. The catch-you-off-guard humor she always enjoyed with Jack still lives in each of her children. It’s what knits us together as family--love and laughter. We will miss you, mom.

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