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Betty Louise Brinker Dunlap
May 9, 1926 - January 10, 2007

When my sister and I sat down together to try to summarize just who my mother was and put it into words to be said today, it was not an easy task. Eventually we distilled it into just one word - CARING. Above all else she was caring. She often told me that the most important thing in her life was her family, but the fact is that she cared for everyone - her immediate family, her extended family, friends, neighbors, students - Mom cared for us all.

As a young woman Mom cared for Dad's sick mother in our home while at the same time raising the two of us. She had a passion for sewing. She made most of our clothes herself, including my wedding gown and my sister's bridesmaid dresses. When we both were in grade school Mom returned to her teaching career. She taught Home Economics - teaching others what they would need to know in order to care for their own families some day.

Mom loved to entertain and cared deeply for her friends in the neighborhood, swim club and Glenshaw Players. There were countless New Years Eve and Super Bowl parties in our basement over the years. She loved to see her guests happy and enjoying themselves. She even opened her home to friends in need, converting Nana's rooms into an apartment for them until they were able to move to their own place again.

After retirement Mom and Dad moved to Florida, where she cared for her own parents in their final years. During that time she also beat breast cancer, underwent two knee replacements and foot surgeries. None of it stopped her caring.

She cared for Dad after his heart and aneurysm surgeries, cared for him so well that after a year of hospice care he was discharged and now proclaims at every possible opportuinty that he is "disgustingly healthy." She also took on the additional responsibility and care of Sam the dog during Dad's recovery. She paid full price for a very sick dog, then hired the owner as her house cleaning help. The woman was in need. Mom cared.

When Mom and Dad and Sam moved back to Pittsburgh a little over a year ago it finally became our turn to care for her. It was an honor and a privilege to do so. We did our best. We will always love her and miss her and carry her spirit of caring with us in our hearts.