Elizabeth Kishel

She who wants her garden tidy, does not reserve a plot for weeds.

Elizabeth J. “Betty” Kishel, age 79, of Erie, passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at UPMC Hamot with her loving family by her side. 

She was born in Erie on July 13, 1939, daughter of the late Joseph and Viola Filipowski.

Betty was a 1957 graduate of the former East High School. She maintained a friendship with fellow graduates for all the years since. 

In 1960, she married the love of her life, James E. Kishel, and together they raised their beautiful family and have cherished all the time spent with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

After working and raising children, Betty was so pleased that in retirement, she could continue doing what she loved. Gardening, baking, ceramics, wood crafting and reading were her favorite hobbies. More than anything, however, she enjoyed family gatherings and her family was the greatest love in her life. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Shirley, granddaughter, Destiny, and a son, James.

Survivors include her husband, James, four daughters, Kathie Soudan (Brad), of Harborcreek, Karen Light (Mike), of North East, Sharon Riley (Matt), of Harborcreek and Shelley Mindek (Hunter), of North East. Sister, Dolly (Bill) Sonnenlitter, of Girard, OH, brother in law, Arthur Morrison, of Erie, sister in law, Donna Kishel, of Erie. She was the loving grandmother to fifteen grandchildren including Destiny, Brittany, Jimmy, Amber, Haley, Ashley, Jonathan, Christopher, Ashley, Heather, Chase, Mathew, Shannon, Sarah and Hannah, in addition to 30 great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews, all of whom make for wonderful gatherings. 

Friends are invited to call at Burton Wintergreen Funeral Home, 2532 Norcross Road, Erie, PA 16510, on Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of a life celebration for Betty at 2:00 p.m. in the Burton Wintergreen All Faiths Chapel. 

Private inurnment will take place at Whispering Pines Cremation Garden.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. 

Send condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.