GIBLIN ELIZABETH ANN BETTY (HART) Betty, 75, of North Fayette, formerly of Allentown, PA and Birmingham, MI, passed away peacefully, on Wednesday afternoon, January 29, 2014, with her daughter Kate by her side. Beloved wife of 44 years to the late Frank V. Giblin, Jr.; devoted mother to Frank III (Lori) of Washington, DC, Mike Giblin and Kate (Jeff) Fletcher of Pittsburgh; loving grandma of Lucas and Megan Fletcher, Ben and Analeigh Giblin; beloved sister of Margaret (John) Elbert, Michael (Mary) Hart, and the late Thomas Hart; adored aunt of her many nieces and nephews. Betty grew up in Mt. Carmel, IL, where her father owned a local BBQ shop and her mother, Catherine, worked as a surgical nurse. As a girl, she adored spending time with daddy at Hart's BBQ shop and was thrilled many years later when her children found and reprised the long lost recipe. Betty graduated from Mt. Carmel High School where she was homecoming queen. She later earned her teaching degree at Southern Illinois University before teaching kindergarten and first grade in Mt. Prospect. She was all set to move to California to further pursue her teaching career when the parents of one of her students set her up on a blind date. The date went well, leading to a second date which, incidentally, involved an airplane trip from Chicago to Milwaukee. While she never, ever, would admit to enjoy flying, she apparently enjoyed the company on that date, as she soon canceled her move out West in favor of getting to know Frank Giblin. A decision for which her three loving children remain eternally grateful. Betty and Frank soon married and settled down, moving to Birmingham, MI, Allentown, PA, and later to the Pittsburgh area. All along the way, wherever she was, Betty always made great friends, made them laugh and gave all of herself to her loving family. Betty and Frank welcomed the birth of their first child on their third wedding anniversary, and the birth of their first grandchild shortly before their 45th. While raising her three children, Betty did volunteer work, served as school lunch mother and taxied vanloads of local kids to T-ball practice on a daily basis. She was an unyieldingly devoted wife, mother and homemaker, always putting her family first. She was a constant, energetic, and supportive friend to her children, always there to talk, listen and love. She never cut short a back rub or a conversation at bedtime. Somehow, even over the last few months, her sense of humor, wit, wisdom and grace only seemed to grow stronger. More than anything, she loved and appreciated her children and grandchildren for who they are, who they were, and who they would someday be. She both cherished the moment and understood the march of time. Betty spoke recently of how proud she was that each of her kids turned out to be so very different, but so wonderful in their own way. In marveling at her grandkids growing up so fast, she talked about how important it is to guide them, but always gently, to let their spirit bloom on their own terms. As her health began to decline recently, Betty realized that she wasn't sure how things were supposed to proceed. Of this she said, I've always spent more time thinking about how to live, rather than how to die. And that was the right way to do it, I suppose. Words cannot express how deeply she will be missed or how strongly she will beloved and remembered, always with a smile. Friends will be welcomed at LAUGHLIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 222 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon, on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Bernard Church on Monday morning at 11:30. www.laughlinfuneralhome.com Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
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