Bette Jo Gorman
Bette Jo Gorman (nee Sitzberger), of Hinsdale, former longtime resident of Clarendon Hills, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2024. Bette Jo was born in Chicago, IL. She graduated from Trinity High School in River Forest, IL and earned a BA in history from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN with the class of 1961. She developed lifelong friendships with several of her college classmates. Frequent communication and multiple annual ski trips strengthened the bond.
Her fascination with the air travel industry, as part of Pan American Airways, took her world wide while in her 20s. Destinations included Mount Kenya, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris, Tahiti, Hawaii and more…
She enjoyed playing Bridge, yoga, dancing, “one” glass of chardonnay, and was a competitive Club tennis player. Retiring from the travel business allowed her to dive into astrology. Family and friends smiled as we all had our “chart” done. The next big move was starting Space Harmony Feng Shui, a consulting business. Wow, what a project; she loved spending hours explaining how to link the Chakras with the Bagua map. Among the positive results of that adventure, an author blossomed. The book title is “The Ch’i of Body and Place.” Later in life Sudoku puzzles and Wordle were daily fun challenges.
She met her husband of 56 years, Earl, when their younger brothers arranged a rendezvous in the summer of 1964. Married in 1967, she lived in Concord, CA as a Marine Officer’s wife. Later they moved to Clarendon Hills, IL and raised three children; E.J., Liz and Lynn.
Bette Jo is an irreplaceable treasure, a creator of dreams for her loved ones; a faithful, intelligent and loving woman. Her five grandchildren call her “Kshama”. Echoes of laughter emanate from the grandchildren when she shares experiences in her archaic vernacular of terms such as Kashiss, Persnickety and Kanorkin.
Surviving family members: husband, Earl John Gorman Jr., children E.J. (Annie) Gorman III, Elizabeth (Michael) Thornton, Lynn (Judah) Battista; her grandchildren William, Landon. Colin, Dylan and Noah.
Survived by her sisters; Suzanne (Joseph Connolly) Williams, Sandy (Tim) Matts and Debbie (Neil Dorfman) Sitzberger.
Preceded in death by her parents Frank and Bette Sitzberger, and younger brothers, Bud and Ken Sitzberger
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Raven Rock Ranch in Redmond WA https://ravenrockranch.org
Memorial Visitation will be Saturday February 24, 2024 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Clarendon Hills from 10 A.M. to 11A.M. Memorial Mass will follow at 11 A.M. Inurnment will be at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium in Annapolis, MD, at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Cappetta’s West Suburban Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Downers Grove. Info 630-852-8000 or westsuburbanfh.com
To the Gorman Family,
I worked with BJ for over 25 years and I always had a great amount of respect for her and her family. I remember having many conversations with her about wide ranging topics and I always enjoyed them. She was very kind and sweet to me and I always appreciated that. I will miss her and will think of her often.
Renata
So sorry for the loss of Aunt B- a wonderful wife, mother and friend to us all. She will be dearly missed but know she is heaven above watching over us until we meet again. Much love and prayers to you Earl, EJ, Liz and Lynn. Love- Jason, Mariela, John and Teresa.