Bettie Carol Zielke, formerly Bettie Chadwick, née Bettie Hamm, 91, of Bradenton, FL, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born on February 13, 1933, in Tampa, FL, to the late parents Walter Hamm and Mary Stephens, née Mary Briggens.
Bettie's family was the center of her world, always encouraging them to live their own lives; and then loved hearing about it. She enjoyed meeting people; and finding out where they were from. She always said she traveled through her family, her books and the people she met from around the world.
Bettie grew up in Tampa, FL and became an elevator operator (when there was such a thing), and worked in credit, where she learned the importance of saving. After starting a family and living in Indiantown, FL; Bettie worked within the Martin County (FL) Public Schools, first in Indiantown and later in Stuart; during her 15+/- years tenure there, at different times, she served as a crossing guard, a teacher's aide, an administrative assistant, and a custodian. Later, needing a change, she moved to the Orlando area to work in housekeeping at Walt Disney World, retiring after 10 years from working for Mickey Mouse. It was at Disney where she met her husband, Carl.
Bettie found joy in keeping up with her family's news, indulging in her love for reading, and in recent years, she enjoyed working on her jigsaw puzzles.
Bettie is survived by:
Her son Glenn Chadwick, his wife Cheryl, his daughters Christa Tina, Elizabeth (Liz) Hipskind, his several grandchildren, and his great-grandson.
Her son Mark Chadwick, his wife Carol, his sons Mark Chadwick (and his fiancée Stephanie Teng), and Michael (Mike) Green, daughters Kelsey Chadwick and Jill Formey (and her husband Alex Formey), née Jill Green, and his grandson.
Her son John Chadwick and his wife Laural Kittleson,
Her stepson Carlton Zielke, and his family members.
Her grandson Johnathan Linzer and his family.
And her nieces, nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Zielke, her daughter Susan Linzer, her son-in-law Mel Linzer, her father, her mother, her stepmother Ruth Hamm, her sister Mary Ross, née Mary Hamm, her brother-in-law Lawrence Ross and other loved ones.
A private celebration of life will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the 2024 Employee Christmas Fund at The Windsor of Bradenton, 2800 60th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34207.
Bettie will be dearly missed by all who knew her, and her memory will forever live on in the hearts of those she touched.
