Elizabeth Antaya

Elizabeth (Betty) M. Antaya (nee Zrelak, passed away on February 22, 2014 in Dearborn, Michigan at the age of 90. Loving wife of the late Edward J. Antaya. Dear mother of Kathy Antaya and the late Judy Danielak. Also survived by sister Pauline Gilden, numerous beloved nieces and nephews, and many, many friends. Memorial Services to be held at Corpus Christi Parish (formerly St. Gerard) and Henry Ford Village, dates TBD. In lieu of flowers, contributions to any hospice or your favorite charity would make Elizabeth very happy. The world is a poorer place with the recent passing of Elizabeth, known to many as “Betty.” Her personal warmth and humor were abundantly bestowed on family, friends and companions. More importantly to Betty, she went out of her way to befriend all strangers, oddballs, and ‘outsiders,’ and make them feel welcome. Elizabeth graduated with honors from Marygrove College, Detroit, with a bachelor degree in social work and was employed by Social Services in Detroit. After marriage to Edward, she devoted herself to full-time mother and wife responsibilities. Always a strong, curious woman, Betty enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies through the years including landscaping and gardening, crafting folksy art, ceramics, and crocheting. She was enamored with roosters, and collected a host of art pieces and images of those birds. In her later years she traveled extensively throughout the world (Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Alaska) and reveled in the unique cultures at every stop. Genealogy was a life-long passion, and more than 30 years ago Betty began an intensive research project on the Antaya family tree. She tenaciously dug into dusty old libraries, census records and musty document depositories, including correspondence with French municipalities and distant relatives. Ultimately documenting the family roots back to a carpenter in 1700’s France, Betty’s skills were widely recognized and she was invited to speak at various genealogical society meetings. One of her proudest accomplishments was helping others to trace their own family history, during her ten-year stint as a genealogy class instructor. Her students’ devotion continues a decade after she stopped teaching, as she still receives notes from them. Since moving to Henry Ford Village in 2000, she made a point of chatting with staff and residents, and welcoming newcomers. Not long did you remain strangers if Betty crossed your path! The secure, all-inclusive environment of HFV allowed her to remain independent and enjoy life, despite the infirmities of old age. In the last month her condition rapidly declined, but she reported no pain and still visited with her friends. She died peacefully, while napping in her own apartment. You done good, Elizabeth. Thanks for everything. We love you full bunches.

Elizabeth Antaya

November 19, 1923 - February 22, 2014