Dateline: Houston, TX
Betty Yakubian, 89, made her peaceful transition on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Seven Acres Long Term Care Center in Houston, Texas where she resided for two years. She was the seventh daughter born to the late Dessie Mae and Harry D. Wilson, on September 13, 1923 in Murphysboro, Illinois.
Betty was an accountant, business woman, artist, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Along with her husband and business partner, Jeanno Yakubian whom she married on March 8, 1957, she owned and operated the East 10 Printing Company, an antique shop, The Luncheonette and Yakubian Development Company which helped revitalize the Wood River downtown area by upgrading many commercial buildings in the 1960s and 70s.

Later, Betty and Jeanno moved to Alton and made their home in the Beall House. She was known as a hostess who entertained with parties large and small. Her gracious sense of style was infused with her playful spirit and fun loving approach to life. In Alton, she and Jeanno opened a new business, Yakubian Commercial Real Estate Company which they operated until Jeanno's death in 1996.

Betty's artistic talents and interests were many. She was a member of the Hammond Organ Club and played at their monthly meetings. She was an accomplished china painter and teacher, world traveler, poet and gourmet cook. She was a member of the Soroptomist and Zonta professional women's organizations and the Wood River Garden Club.

Betty was a spiritual explorer and enjoyed being part of the community at First Unitarian Church of Alton and the Anna Dees. She also attended the Unity Church in Houston. Her library of spiritual books was extensive and she loved reading.

A Master NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Practitioner, her training was in Houston where she earned her credentials in NLP along with her daughter Jan (Stringer) Berzins. She credited NLP for helping her face health challenges after she suffered a stroke in 2005. Her courage and creative spirit carried her through difficult times and were an inspiration to her family and friends.

In addition to her daughter Janet and son-in-law Tex Berzins, Betty is survived by her two beloved granddaughters and their husbands: Lauren and Brian Kelly and Lisa and Pat Hale; great-grandchildren: Sam Hale, Erin Hale and Conor Kelly all of Houston; Niece, Armida Herring of Jerseyville; brother-in-law, Raffi Yakubian of Santa Ana, California and many nieces and nephews.


In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her siblings and their spouses: Ann and Jack Norman, Edith and Kenneth Scoggins, Mildred and Emil Franke, Dorothy and Armel Holshouser, Maxine and Robert Ufert, Helen Wilson, Harry and Edna Wilson, Jack and Deloris Wilson.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers, who supported Betty during the past seven years: first in Illinois at The Fountains lV in Godfrey and Glenhaven Gardens of Alton and finally in Texas at Seven Acres and Vitas Hospice in Houston. Contributions in her honor can be made to IMPACT in Alton or to the charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Betty's Life is scheduled in the afternoon of June 22, 2013 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton with a Visitation at 12:30 until the beginning of the Memorial Service at 2:00.


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