Betty Jean (Staley) Goetz

Betty Jean Goetz, 95, of Marion, and formerly of Swansea and Belleville, passed away Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Integrity Health of Marion.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 24, 2025, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Memorial contributions can be made to Residential Hospice or to the Alzheimer's Association.

Betty was born on April 4, 1930, in East St.Louis, Illinois, to Russell Sidney and Anna Sarah (Brookins) Staley. She married Edward Walter Goetz on May 21, 1949, in East St. Louis. He preceded her in death on March 14, 2011.

She is survived by her daughters, Jackie (David) Charles, and Sandie (Rev. Dr. David Estep); grandchildren, Matt (William) Charles, Eric (Mariah) Charles, Jenny (John) Lurkins, John Estep, and Marie (Jeremiah) Kovar; great-grandchildren, Sidney, Garbriel, Aubrey, Etta, Helen, Rhys, Rhien, Alicea (Drew), Sceliescia, and Jonathan; great great-grandchild, Wyatt; plus many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, James, Robert, William, Norman, and Richard; and sisters, Patsy Ann Jones, Edna Roach, and Doris Matt.

She was never one to shy away from hard work. At just 14, she began ironing and cleaning homes for a local family. Over the years, she held many jobs, including work at the Majestic Theater in East St. Louis, Woolworth’s Dime Store, the Button Factory in East St. Louis, and a jewelry store in St. Louis where she hand-strung pearls. She also worked in cafeteria service, at Switzer’s Licorice Factory, a bacon packing company, V.F.W., the Hallmark Store in French Village, the cheese shop at the Fairview Heights Mall, and as a cashier and cook at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. Two of her most beloved roles were serving as a school bus driver and later working at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Fairview Heights.

Betty enjoyed bowling, sewing, and tap dancing with the senior group at Becky Kern’s Dance Studio.

She was a member of Union United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, and was also proud to be a member of the Eastern Star.

Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville assisted the family with cremation services. For more information, visit rigginpillatschburkefh.com.

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