Born: February 12, 1924, in Toledo, Ohio
Passed away: January 16, 2022, in Avon Lake, OH
Age: 97
The Story
The Armbruster family lost their matriarch late Sunday night when Betty Armbruster, 97 years young, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her beloved children.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Betty grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, and belonged to St. Clement’s Parish. She attended Lincoln Elementary and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1942 where she was friends with Marge Redmond who went on to star in movies and television back in the late 60’s. Betty became very close with her grandmother, Mamie, after losing her mother in 1938, and after graduating high school, she lived with Mamie in an upstairs apartment on Madison Avenue in Lakewood. Over the next six years, Betty took a cable car from there to her first job at the Treasury Dept. in downtown Cleveland, where she met her best friend, Ev, who remained a lifelong friend along with Ev’s husband, Al. While attending a friend’s wedding, she met Art Armbruster, who would become the love of her life. They were married in 1948 at St. Clement’s on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, and would be inseparable until Art’s death in 1998, just short of their 50th wedding anniversary. Art was a marine service engineer for American Great Lake cargo freighter ships, including the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, and Betty loved hearing the exciting stories he would share upon his return home. One of her favorite adventures was ‘cruising’ on a freighter with Art as it navigated the Great Lakes.
In her life, Betty had many roles, but her most cherished one was that of being a mother. She loved her family fiercely and always prioritized their needs. She was known for her baking, especially her apple pie (McIntosh apples only!), poppy seed rolls, and round loaves of honey wheat bread that were often enjoyed by friends and family. Betty was also a talented seamstress who loved gifting pajamas at Christmas for her grandchildren, Hawaiian shirts for her sons and son-in-law, and also making clothes for her daughter, including mother/daughter matching dresses for a 5th birthday party. She was a resourceful provider, and the best Avon lady you ever met! She was recognized as a President’s Club Member for each of her 10 years selling Avon, which also earned her 10 Mrs. Albee figurines. She also started a collection of Betty Boop memorabilia after receiving a beautiful Betty Boop Rollerskating Waitress-Butler Server as a birthday gift from Mike and Elaine!
Betty retired from Avon to care for her husband, Art, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and selflessly did so for 10 years, after which she volunteered at Southwest General Hospital for several years. In 2014, she packed up and moved cross country to Southern California to be near her youngest son, Chris, and his wife, Lorie. Once there, she embraced her new life in a friendly and active senior community in Laguna Hills, CA. There she joined the billiards club (she even owned her own pool cue), and learned to successfully play 9-ball. She loved her new friendships and became especially close with Lorie’s mother, Helen. They would often call each other while watching Dancing with the Stars to critique the performances, as well as take day trips to some of California’s beautiful sites and beaches.
Betty moved back to her home state of Ohio with Chris and Lorie in 2015. As she began struggling with dementia, her strong, unwavering faith in God, and praying to her favorite, St. Francis, as well as the support of her family, helped her through the difficult challenges of her disease. It was surely a blessing that her children could be at her side as she passed from this life to let her know how much she was loved and appreciated for all she has given to each of them.
Betty has now re-joined her loving husband, Art, in Heaven, and is survived by her children, Michael (Elaine), Gary (Judi), Deborah Stano (William Jr.), Charles (Joan), and Christopher (Lorie). Betty is also survived by seven grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, two surrogate grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association at https:/act.alz.org
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