Obituary of Betty J Comella

Our beloved mother, Betty Joyce Comella, passed away on January 3, 2023. Betty was born to William and Jessie (Hopkins) Eves on November 2, 1927, in Weston, Oregon. She was the fifth of seven children in the family. Her dad farmed, mostly in the Yakima Valley, and the family moved often. She attended 12 schools in 12 years, graduating as Salutatorian from White Swan High School in 1945. After graduation, Betty moved to Seattle, where her sister Doris was living and working. She later moved to Portland, where she met Frank Comella, who had just returned from Hawaii after three years of repairing battleships for the Navy. They married in 1946 and were just 4 days shy of their 60th anniversary when he passed, in 2006. As their family grew, Betty gave her children the best possible start in life and was their biggest encourager. She was always available to be a room mother, cookie baker or carnival leader for Kellogg Elementary. Betty was known to a generation of girls as their Camp Fire Girl leader and Camp Wekio counselor. During the candy sale, she was gatekeeper for hundreds of boxes of mints. She also held leadership positions at the regional level and was recognized for her commitment with numerous awards. Betty also volunteered her time and energy to Steve’s interests, including Boy Scouts, Little League, and Royal Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps. In 1978, the family opened their successful business, Comella & Son & Daughter, in Garden Home. Frank may have been the outward face of the business, but Betty was the backbone. She handled the bookkeeping, ran the florist department, and kept us all in line. Holidays would find her in the back room, creating hundreds of fruit baskets and making bows until her fingers bled. Thursday was her day to relax and go tole painting, creating precious family treasures. Betty divided her life into two parts: Before her debilitating stroke in 1994; and Afterwards. The stroke left her with minimal use of her right side, but she adapted. She used to say it was difficult because she was still a right-handed person, having to do everything with her left hand. She worked hard at rehab and did whatever was necessary to be independent again. She learned to drive again and took computer classes at the senior center, learning how to use a computer one-handed. Betty came from a long line of strong and gentle women. She was our source of comfort, wisdom, resilience, warmth, compassion, kindness, and love. She will be deeply missed. Betty is survived by her children, Sandra (Ed) Riederich, Stephen (Patricia) Comella, and Cindy Comella, brother Dean (Carol) Eves, seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and many loved nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her husband, Frank, and her siblings, Mabel Swank, Roy Eves, Jean Morford, Doris Gustafason, and Jack Eves. Final arrangements handled by Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, WA. Private interment will be at River View Cemetery, Portland, OR. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Campfirecolumbia.org in Betty’s name.