Betty Aptekar

“A full and happy life” was how Betty spoke of the many years she was blessed with. She truly loved life, even with the heartache life sometimes dealt, wounds healed and life was once again hers to make it the best it could be.

Betty was a graduate of Lakewood’s Clifton Ave Grade School and the original Princeton Avenue High School and much later in life graduated from Ocean County College. She graduated from each with honors and thoroughly enjoyed being a student and was always involved in extracurricular activities. Her memories of Co-Captaining the L.H.S Blue and White annual Competitions, High School Cheerleader, Secretary of 1940 Class and Editor and Chief of the 1940 Class Year Book were some of her never forgotten school years.

Following a pattern set by her parents, volunteering to help others in any and many ways was a natural.

From early school days, collecting food and clothing, and with teachers’ guidance, delivering them to the needy was the beginning of volunteering which lasted through all her school years.

As an adult, that habit continued in many volunteer organizations, including the Y.M.C.A., Methodist Church, Congregation Ahavat Shalom, Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, Ocean County Senior Services, K.M.C. Auxiliaries of Lakewood Fairways and Lake Ridge, The Lakewood Heritage Foundation and was a Board Member of K.M.C. Foundation.

The longest and dearest volunteering Betty enjoyed and gave so many years to, starting in 1946, was her pride and joy Paul Kimball Hospital, now known as Kimball Medical Center.

Betty’s favorite saying was” You never have to be thanked for whatever you do as a volunteer because you walk away just knowing you did something good, but something even better for yourself”.

Betty was pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Dr. Paul Aptekar, a Lakewood Pediatrician, who also loved Lakewood and Kimball Hospital, her sister Ruth Hastings and her daughter Patricia Gause.

She is survived by her loving son and daughter-in-law Richard and Roxanne Beers of Barnegat, NJ and 4 grandchildren, Jennifer, Ginger, Samantha Scott and Sandy as well as host great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held Sunday 9:30 - 10:30 am at D’Elia Funeral Home, 1300 Vermont Avenue. Funeral service to immediately follow. Interment: Floral Park Cemetery, Monmouth Junction.