Betty Jean Rogers' Obituary
Betty Jean Rogers (nee Soley) left her earthly life on December 6, 2022, while at home in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband Campbell by her side. Betty Jean was born in Gary, Indiana to John Soley and Elizabeth (Betty Szunyog) Soley on April 2, 1938. She was the only child of her proud parents.
Betty Jean attended Emerson High School in Gary, Indiana. She married Lee Christakis in Gary in 1955. They relocated to Bloominton, Indiana, where she worked to support them while Lee completed law school there. Her early career was as a mother to her sons, Yochanan (John) and Michael Christakis. In 1969, she welcomed her 14 year old cousin Susan into her family and became Susan's legal guardian, She and Lee were married for 12 years. Afterwards, she married Michael Salerno in 1977 and they moved to Palm Springs, California. Michael passed in 1979. She met Campbell Rogers in 1982 and they were devoted to each other for the next 40 years. They married in 1990. They lived in the Vancouver, British Columbia area for several years before settling in Tucson, Arizona, in 2001. Betty was a loving and faithful wife to the men she married.
In the late 60's, she was highly active in the Daughters of Penelope, of the Greek Orthodox community, and was the Indiana District Governor of that organization during that time. Her later careers were as a real estate agent and as a construction contractor. Her passions were interior decorating, cooking, and counted cross stitch. She loved to travel, she saw British Columbia, Athens, Rhodes, Chios, Mexico City, Acapulco, Puerto Rico and most of the US states during her lifetime.
Betty Jean was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her beloved and faithful husband Campbell, her sons Yochanan and Michael, her cousin Susan and Susan’s children Daniel and Kara. As a child, Kara wrote about Betty for a school assignment:
“B.J. Helpful, Thankful, Grace, loving. Grandmother of Kara and lover of children, shopping, dog. Who feels happy, joy, needed. Who fears spiders, being alone, and losing a grandchild in the mall. Who needs love, care, understanding. Who gives food, care, love. Who would like to see Hawaii, all the states, and the Pope.”
Betty will be missed by all of us. It is our hope in God is to be together with her again.
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name: you are Mine. You are precious in My sight because I love you." Isaiah 43:1-4.
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