Betty Lambatos

Betty Lambatos, 93, of Schaumburg, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2022. An avid Cubs fan, Betty enjoyed taking long walks, smelling the freshly blooming flowers outside, chewing on ice, taking the train for Chicago to shop, and was always known to remember birthdays and name days for everyone. She loved all of her family so much and was very giving. Betty especially loved going to Greek Picnics in the summer and celebrating holiday, birthdays, and other special occasions with family.

Betty worked very hard for most of her life shining parachute belts for U.S. soldiers during WWII, working for many decades for the booming Chicago railroads doing clerical work, and later, for the Illinois State Police working the machine that gave the police leads on various crimes

As a child, because they were very poor, Betty and her family shared an apartment with their cousins where they developed strong bonds and had many good times. As an Aunt and Godmother/Nona, Betty loved playing with the kids, reading with them, and quizzing them.

Betty seemed to always carry a purse wherever she went and she had a deep respect for her elders. Her name in Greek was “Vasiliki” which she loved to say and besides “Aunt Betty” she got much satisfaction out of being called “Thia Betty” (“Aunt Betty” in Greek). She also loved TRYING to teach her nephews and nieces Greek words and all about Greek history.

For years, Betty loved eating at the Walnut Room by the big Christmas Tree during Christmas at the large Marshall Field’s Department Store in Chicago when it was still open and shopping at the Chicago Carson Pirie Scott Store on State Street. She also loved going to the gambling boats and invest $20 to play the penny slots (where she often was lucky when she was down to her last chip!) or putting $2 on a horse at the beautiful Arlington Park Race Track.

Betty was very patriotic and was very proud of her father George who fought as a soldier in WWI. He also was a waiter at the famous Congress Hotel in Chicago where he met many Hollywood stars, singers (including Frank Sinatra), and politicians. Later he would own his own restaurant…he was an excellent cook!

Betty was also so proud of her mother Elaine, who made beautiful handmade bead dresses in the 1920’s for some of the most expensive and stylish stores in Chicago…it was very difficult work for very little pay. Some of the most stylish people in Chicago adorned themselves with the dresses she made

Betty especially loved spending time with her wonderful sister Irene...who she used to call “Reeny” as a sweet nickname. They went many places together and had many adventures…taking many trips to Toronto, Canada and Athens, Greece among others. Though neither Betty nor Irene never married or had children, they treated their nephews and grand nephews & nieces as if they were as special as their own. They were wonderful.

When their young brother Dan was just a toddler they used to like to treat him as their own little doll and clothe him in their own dresses…the stories always sounded very funny, and they loved “Danny-Moo” with all their hearts.

Betty (and Irene and Grandma Elaine) were very proud when they purchased their one and only piece of real estate…a beautiful new townhouse in Schaumburg. They loved living in their new home very much. Importantly, they could easily take the buses and train and walk many places…they never owned a car. They knew every bus and train schedule by heart and, on many days, would walk several miles!

Later in life, after the passing of her beloved sister Irene and mother, Betty lived on her own in that same townhouse for 30 years. Many were not sure she would be able to do it as Betty had depended on the combined income and skills of her mother and sister Irene to get by. But Betty showed everyone and successfully was able to keep the townhouse and run the household all by herself. She even scraped together money to take a trip with the Greek church to Washington, D.C., traveled to Denver, Colorado, and even took an adventure to Australia where she made lifelong friends!

Betty was very much helped during those years by her wonderful brother Dan. Dan helped drive Betty to the stores, different appointments, took her for long drives in the country, called her to tell her when the Cubs were playing or different television shows were on that Betty liked, and tried to provide different family social opportunities for Betty. He brought much happiness to Betty’s life.

Betty will be very missed by her family and friends. Betty was a very religious person who loved going to St. Sophia’s Church, St. Nectarios Church, and St. Demetrios Church. She would often bring back palms or holy water or communion bread from church during the Easter season to give to her family and relatives. Betty also enjoyed visiting the Greek Monastery in southern Wisconsin and often bought crosses or icons of Jesus, The Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus, and St. George.

Betty wanted to share her Christian faith with her family and friends. She loved to play the Greek Easter egg tradition of “crack the egg” with her nephews, nieces, and family while saying “Christos anesti!” which in Greek means “Christ has risen”. Because of Betty, we have a little more knowledge of our Christian faith…maybe as small as a mustard seed (which is one of the smallest seeds), but she helped to remind us what Jesus did for us and what his promise is to us insofar as seeing our dearly departed ones again in a much better place.

Thank you Betty for all that you are, all that you tried to be, and all the wonderful ways you touched our lives! We love you!

Beloved daughter of the late George and the late Elaine (nee Hajinickeol) Lambatos; dear sister of Dan (Dolores) Lambatos and the late Irene Lambatos; fond aunt of Jimmy Lambatos, Maria (Mike) Warren, Matt Lambatos, and Luke (Sandra) Lambatos. Visitation Friday, July 22 from 10:00am until time of service 12:00pm at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church 525 Church Rd., Elgin. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Info (630)529-5751