Obituary of Betty Jane Fatula

Betty Jane Fatula (née Minick) of State College passed away on December 24, 2013 at the Fairways at Brookline after an extended and very courageous 14-year battle with cancer. She was 89.

Born on May 10, 1924 in New Kensington, Betty was the sixth daughter of Grace (née Faith) and Franklin Minick. She was cherished by her older sisters, Beulah Hegmann, Olive Guiney, Dorothy Emert, Mildred Covey, and Ardieth Covey. Betty was the last remaining member of her generation.

On August 17, 1946, she was united in marriage to William (Bill) F. Fatula at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Kensington. Betty and Bill celebrated 50 years of marriage until his death on August 26, 1996.

Betty is survived by her three children, William (Bill) Fatula, Jr. and his wife Gro Torsethaugen of Howard, Debra Fatula Dreher and her companion Robert (Bob) Houtz of State College, and Mark Fatula and his wife Lisa Davis of Boalsburg. She also is survived by her six grandchildren, Jill Schmidt and her husband Bill of Dauphin, Moriah Kowalczyk and her husband Chris of Virginia Beach, Megan Fatula-Chase and her husband Chris of Hong Kong, Anton Fatula of Howard, Kira Dreher and her husband Jeff Squires of Minneapolis, and Rachel Fatula of Boalsburg; five great-grandchildren, Madison Schmidt, Kiersten and Viking Kowalczyk, Kiya and Lucas Chase; by one great-grandchild due in July; by her former son-in-law Daniel Dreher of Harrisburg, her former daughter-in-law Robyn Fatula-Confer of Howard, and by many in her extended family. She was pre-deceased by her parents, sisters, and husband.

Betty grew up in New Kensington where her father owned the local meat market. After her marriage, she and Bill moved to Canton, OH where their son, Bill, was born. They then moved to Dorseyville, PA where her daughter, Debra, and son, Mark, were born. Betty and Bill moved their family to State College in 1961 and built their home in Park Forest, where she lived until the time of her death.

Once all of her children entered school, Betty pursued her dream of attending college and in 1969 enrolled at The Pennsylvania State University in what was then the Department of Individual and Family Studies in the College of Human Development. She was a gifted student and graduated in 1971 with high marks and was the Student Marshal for her college, recipient of the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, the High Ranking Junior Award, a member of the Phi Kappa Pi (1971), Omicron Nu (1970) and Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society (1971). She then earned a Master’s degree in Education from the College of Human Development, Department of Individual and Family Studies with emphasis in Gerontology. After graduation, she worked as a Project Assistant for the Gerontology Center in the College of Human Development where she helped pioneer some of the first educational programs for senior citizens and designed and evaluated training programs directed toward modifying attitudes and acquiring new information and skills about sensory impairments frequently found among institutionalized elderly people. She traveled extensively throughout the state training professionals on the use of the materials she developed. In the mid-1970s, she was the author or co-author of several landmark publications, including Facilitating Adult Learning, Sensory Deprivation and the Elderly, Communication Skills for the Gerontological Practitioner, and Evaluation of Sensory Impairment Program for Gerontological Service Providers as well as articles on aging published in peer-reviewed publications, including the Journal of Gerontology.

Betty was a devoted wife and mother and was a strong advocate for her children of whom she was most proud. A lifelong student of the piano and music, Betty instilled in her children a love of music and song. She played the piano almost every day and was able to play the week before her death. She kept a beautiful home where everyone was welcome. Betty’s love of animals was unparalleled and she nurtured many dogs, cats, and birds throughout her lifetime. She was an avid reader and had a delightful sense of humor and a gift for telling stories. Betty will be forever missed by her immediate family, her extended family, and her friends.

A private viewing was held at Koch Funeral Home in State College on December 27 with interment on December 28 at the side of her beloved husband at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. A memorial service celebrating Betty’s life will be held in State College; arrangements will be announced when completed.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.