Betty Zander
Betty Jean Westbrook Zander, of Chattanooga, was lifted out of the bonds of her Alzheimer’s disease early Tuesday evening, August 1, in Atlanta, Georgia. She was 88 years old.
Betty was born in McComb, Ms., June 22, 1929, to Hilda Rae Parker Westbrook and BH Westbrook. In 1950, she married in Jackson, Ms., Hendrik Zander, Jr. (deceased 1986). There they had two children – Gwendolyn Zander (Smyrna, Ga.) and Suzette Zander (Katy, Tx.) Besides her daughters, Betty is survived by her granddaughter, Heather Marie Hathcock (Katy, Tx.), cousins, Geraldine, Homerline, Randy, Annie Laura and Sonny and their offspring.
Betty and Henk moved to Chattanooga, in late 1956 when he got a job at Chattanooga Glass Company.
She was a very active member of First Christian Church of Chattanooga and was active in many activities – Christian Women’s Fellowship, the Hospitality Committee, Stephens Ministry, founder of the XYZ group for active older adults, a delegate to both regional and the national Disciples of Christ conventions, a manager for several small apartments in a building that the church owned before the Educational building was built, and went on a mission trip to Jamaica. She also worked with another church member, Anne Huff in setting up a precursor to the Head Start program of Chattanooga for disadvantaged kids there in the church.
Her volunteerism didn’t stop at the church. She volunteered for 25 years at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. She also volunteered with the Tennessee Aquarium, AARP, served as a president of the PTA at her children’s elementary school, and served as the volunteer activities director at a nursing home in Corsicana, Tx., when they lived there for 18 months.
Betty and Henk became sailors and were members of the Privateer Yacht Club of Chattanooga. They also started a small business, Things Nautical, in connection with the sailing.
Her hobbies included gardening, bird-watching, and hosting parties and meals for friends.
The family wishes to thank all her many caregivers over the past 10 years that were at her home, at Alexian Brothers Valley Residence (Chattanooga) and at the William Breman Jewish Home (Atlanta) where she resided her last two years. A special thank you goes to Ruby Sterchi who was faithful to her for so many years and easily became part of the family. Another special thank you goes to her hairdresser and friend of 25 years, Kathy Slaten.
All the services and a small luncheon afterwards will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the First Christian Church, 650 McCallie Ave. at the Campus Drive intersection, Chattanooga. Visitation will be from 10:30–11:30 a.m., with the memorial service at 11:30 a.m. and a small luncheon immediately following as Betty would have done. The family requests those so inclined to please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Both can be done online at either http://www.alz.org/georgia orwww.community-kitchen.org.