March 27 1932 May 9 2020 (age 88)
Obituary Elizabeth “Betty” West On May 9, 2020 Elizabeth (Immele) West, of East Hanover, passed away peacefully at the age of 88. She was born to parents Irene (Laëske) and Carl Immele, German immigrants, at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark. Elizabeth grew up in Newark and graduated from South Side High School. Elizabeth is survived by her husband of 68 years, Robert and 7 children: Nancy (West) and Anton Steiner, Susan (West) and Douglas Howering, Diane (West) and James Schilling, Cathy (West) and James Semanski, Ingrid (West) and Brent Mullane, David West and Diane, Heidi (West) and Richard Lee, as well as 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Irene (Laëske) and Carl Immele, two sisters, Gerda Mooney, Ruth Elsasser, and her grandson, Michael B. West. Elizabeth worked at the Jones Company as a typist during and after high school. She also did title searches as a substitute. She would take the train from Newark to Trenton and spend the whole day in the courthouses looking up title records in the actual handwritten books. Elizabeth was a stay-at-home mother attending to her 7 children; once all the children were of school age, she began working part time doing bookkeeping work at home, followed by working part time as a cashier at Ross’s Foodtown in East Hanover. Elizabeth segued into full time employment with Newsweek Magazine in Livingston, then as an administrative assistant with Prudential where she retired in 1987. Elizabeth started a second career as a receptionist/Office Manager with the Presbytery of Newton, retiring in 1997. She continued to work part time on and off (she liked to be busy!): Epstein’s candy department in Morristown, a Hallmark store, and in the floral department of Kings. Service to others was important to Elizabeth. She volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader, at Dress for Success, Meals on Wheels and with the Morris County Battered Women’s Shelter. Elizabeth was a member of the Kitchell Memorial Presbyterian Church for 56 years where she served as an Elder, Clerk of Session, Sunday School Teacher and worked with the Newton-Nairobi Partnership. Elizabeth also served on the East Hanover Township Environmental Committee and Zoning Board Elizabeth was an active environmentalist, who for many years participated in multiple river clean ups, was an avid recycler, and she walked up and down Troy Road picking up trash and keeping the area beautiful. Passionate about the outdoors, Elizabeth enjoyed being outside walking, hiking, camping, and gardening. Elizabeth spent many early years in a bowling league and playing tennis with friends, cross country skiing, teaching her children to ice skate and swim. Betty loved to play games, read, work on puzzles, loved music and dancing. She was an active member of the E. Hanover Senior Citizens, calling Bingo and playing Texas Holdem’, as well as playing Scrabble weekly with a group of women in Whippany and East Hanover. Elizabeth traveled extensively all over the world with family and friends and always welcomed everyone warmly into her home. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as annual family summer vacations at the beach. Elizabeth had a practical nature, wonderful laugh, beautiful smile and always wanted to have fun. She had a special, gentle way with babies – who loved to be held and smile back at her, the ‘Nana-Whisperer’. Elizabeth lived a full life, sharing her time and talents with so many. She is loved by all her family and friends and will be deeply missed. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Those wishing to honor her life may make a donation in her name to the Jersey Battered Women’s Services, P.O. Box 1437, Morristown, N.J. 07962. To plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth “Betty” (Immele) West, please visit our tribute store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Elizabeth Betty Immele West March 27 1932 May 9 2020 (age 88).
Death notice for the town of: Wharton, state: New Jersey