Betty Baker Craten

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Betty B. Craten, our loving and devoted grandmother, godmother, and kind soul to all who met her, on July 10, 2022.

She left us following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s in her beloved Mount Vernon, Virginia, accompanied by her devoted granddaughter and full-time caregiver, Jennifer. She was in her 95th year.

Born in the District of Columbia as Betty Gray Baker on October 14, 1926, she witnessed incredible changes to her world, from living through the Great Depression to watching her classmates leave for WWII, many of whom never returned. She worked diligently as a Secretary for the Federal Government, specializing in shorthand, typing, and grammar.

Following the war, she met her handsome husband, Athanasios (Arthur) J. Craten, who served in the US Navy. Married in Washington DC in 1947, they had one son, James Constantine Craten, and then moved across the Potomac, settling in Mount Vernon. They were married for 51 years until Arthur succumbed to cancer in 1998.

Betty is predeceased by her husband Arthur, son James, sister Phyllis, and brother “Bo."

She was the proud grandmother known as “Amah” to the grandchildren she left behind, Jennifer Lynn Craten, Linsay Maria Craten, and Jaime Alexander Craten. She was the proud godmother to Chris Euripides. She also precedes her late-in-life but wonderfully loving boyfriend, also a widower while still young-at-heart, Bernard “Benny” Thien.

Betty lived a long life in which she relished in her titles as mother, godmother, grandmother, as well as pet parent and grandparent to many stray and adopted dogs and cats. She was generous and patient, living by the idea that good things come to those who wait.

She adored serving others, whether preparing each person an individualized multi-course breakfast, keeping a cozy home, giving to local charities, cooking dinner each day, or tickling her grandkids' backs until they fell asleep. She loved a good saying or song, difficult crossword puzzles, leisurely walks in the park, family reunions in Maryland, trips with Benny, turtle trinkets, National Public Radio, and drinking tea, especially Earl Grey.

A faithful Christian, she converted to Greek Orthodoxy upon marriage to Arthur. One of the most enthusiastic members, she attended service, was active in the Daughters of Penelope, fasted each week, ate only fish on Fridays, and repeated the prayers she learned as a child every day with her family. Along with her husband, she was a founding member of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Virginia.

She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

The beautiful funeral service was held at St. Katherine in Falls Church on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to an animal welfare organization such as The Humane Society, humanesociety.org, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, aspca.org, or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation cbf.org.

“As for me, make mine tea!” - Betty

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