Elizabeth Ann Sekreta

Betty Sekreta

On January 1, 2021, the world lost an amazing light with the peaceful passing of Elizabeth Ann Sekreta at the age of 97. Elizabeth (Betty) was born in Portland, Oregon on October 5, 1923, to Clifford and Maybelle Skinner. She had two older brothers and one younger brother, but was rarely left out of their adventures, going hunting and horseback riding around their property when they moved to Arizona when she was young.

John and Betty

She met the man who would become her husband on the train during one of her trips to Arizona from Oregon where she was teaching. After a whirlwind long-distance courtship, she married John Joseph Sekreta on July 9, 1945. John’s career in the Navy took them to San Diego, California and then to the San Francisco Bay area where they raised their two children, John, Jr., and Kathi.

Betty started her teaching career at the age of 18 and taught or administered schools nearly continuously until she retired. Betty received her BA and Master’s in Education and Administration from San Francisco State University, with a particular interest in special education throughout her career. Her last position was as principal of a school for students with physical disabilities. When Betty retired from teaching, she and John, Sr. moved to Washington state to be closer to John, Jr. and his family. She and John, Sr. spent their retirement traveling frequently and seeing the world.

Betty was a phenomenal woman who led a fruitful life filled with laughter, love, kindness, and family. She lived and practiced “ohana” even before she knew what that was. The Sekreta household was welcoming and loving. She let her love and joy shine on so many people, many of whom became that ohana over the years. Everyone who knew Betty loved her just as much as her immediate family. She was an educator through and through, having a successful career and passing that love of learning and teaching on to her six granddaughters and five great-grandchildren. She was full of the best advice and made sure everyone she knew learned something worthwhile from her.

She was an amazing baker, and many of her grandkids and great-grandkids continue baking her signature ginger crisps or Nordy Bars. She knew how to throw a party and she ensured that everything she was involved with was filled with her light. When she and John, Sr. moved into a retirement community, she became known as the life of the party – if there was a ruckus, Betty was likely in the middle of it, possibly the cause.

The massive hole in our heart will heal with some time, more baking, and probably a bit of whiskey or wine. Everyone she met will forever be impacted by the love that she so freely gave. So cheers to you Betty, I hope you, John, Sr., and all of your ohana are having a massive party together in heaven, as you did in life. Love you.

Betty is preceded in her passing by her brothers, Bob, Cliff and Jack, and her loving husband John. She is survived by her children John (Kathleen) and Kathi (Donn); her grandaughters Jennifer (Rob), Colleen (Steve), Deborah, Meghan (Doug), Kristin (Eric), and Emily (Adam); her five great-grandchildren and many, many friends and ohana throughout the world.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated via LiveStream (https://www.saintteresacalcutta.org/138) at Saint Theresa of Calcutta Catholic Church at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 11. She will be interred at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elizabeth Sekreta’s name to the Seattle Children’s Hospital (https://www.seattlechildrens.org/giving/) or the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church’s (Woodinville, WA) African Orphan’s Fund (https://www.africaorphanprogram.org).