Anita Betker

On Friday morning November 6, 2015 our beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Friend Anita Betker went home to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her many family members who had been faithfully by her side. Anita was born in Montreal, Canada on June 15th 1933 to Antoinette and Pasqual D'Abramo. She was the youngest of four girls. She met the love of her life and husband of 61 years, Herbert Betker, in 1954 on a trip to visit her sister Christina in Pennsylvania. They married on October 30th, 6 months later. They lived in New Jersey until 1963 when they decided to pack up the car and move out west to California. With little money in their pockets they left behind the house they had built themselves to plant new roots in the city of Torrance. They arrived with three little children and one on the way. Torrance was where she raised her family and was able to touch so many lives with her devoted love to Christ. The Lord used her as one of his faithful servants her whole life even in her very last days. She loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She had helped to plant churches, was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent of the Sunday school department at the Assembly of God Church, and always played the piano in church. Her greatest desire was for all to know the Lord. She was also proud to become an American citizen in 1966.Anita had five beautiful babies. Donald, her first born child died shortly after birth and we as a family feel such comfort knowing she has long-awaited her reunion with him in heaven. Anita and Herb later relocated to Ventura in 1979. All their children followed, making Ventura the hometown to her family. Anita touched the lives of everyone she met. She loved to give, laugh, and love. Her laugh was from the heart and was contagious. She could put a smile on anyone's face in English, Italian, and French. She loved to cook and celebrate family. There was no need to wait for a holiday or special occasion to have the whole family over for big dinners, laughs, games, and coffee. Anita is preceded in death by her mother "Nuna," father "Nuno," Her Grandmother "M?me", her son Donald, sister Carmen, and a few wonderful friends who have passed. There is a party for her in heaven. She is survived by her husband Herbert, eldest son Steven (Barbara), daughter Karen (Les), daughter Laura (Curtis), daughter Susan (Steven), her grandchildren Natalie, Joel, Skyler, Cory, James, Stuart, Joshua, her great-grandchildren Alyssa, Owen, Ava, Aiden, Lucy, Lennon, Cole, and one little baby boy on the way, her many friends, and Teddi her little miniature poodle. She will be deeply missed by all her family, friends, and her Church. As we mourn, cry, and reminisce during this difficult time we take comfort in knowing she is with our heavenly Father, rejoicing in heaven with no pain. The legacy she leaves shows all the blessings received from of a life of devotion to Jesus Christ and truly following the footsteps Jesus has asked us to follow. As a family we would like to thank the doctors and wonderful nurses at CMH, the doctors and nurses who provided excellent care at Cedar Sinai, Dr. James Hornstein, Pastor Larry of South Coast Community Church, and the amazing compassion and care from the Assisted Living Hospice.