Betty P. Chan

It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the passing of our mother, Betty Phyllis Chan, 82, on January 8, 2024. She passed surrounded by her daughters and family by her side.

She was born on October 24th, 1941 in Alderson, WV to William Edwin Stanley and Opal Meade Stanley. Betty is survived by her daughters Tiffany Chan and Benay (Shane) Chan Nachin, granddaughter Charise (Ben) McNeal, and great-granddaughters Jaelynn, Aria, and Janie McNeal.  Her brother Rodney (Lorrainne) Stanley of Heath, OH and sister Eunice Cook of Marysville, OH. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Garland Stanley, Dale Stanley, Ray Stanley, and Jane Miville.

Betty was a coal miner’s daughter and grew up in rural West Virginia and Ohio. However, she was eager to learn about the world that lay beyond.  As a young woman, she  attended Eastern College in Philadelphia where she  discovered the world of classical music, literature, and art. It filled her up, and they became lifelong interests. It was in Philadelphia where she met Benjamin Chan, who became her husband and father of her two children, Tiffany and Benay.  Ben got a job teaching Religion and Philosophy at IUP, and they moved to Indiana in 1969.

She loved traveling to the places where her beloved art and music pieces were made. She made numerous trips to Europe and took cruises around the world. She and Tiffany have traveled through Montana, British Columbia, and Washington State numerous times. She often travels back to Ohio to see relatives. She and Benay recently traveled to West Virginia to see her childhood home.

Betty was also a gourmet cook. Getting an invitation to go to her house for a special meal that she lovingly made was not to be missed.  She often brought together the people whom she loved to serve them delicious food and to have meaningful conversations.

To know Betty was to know how deeply committed and loving she was to her family and friends.  She has maintained many relationships with friends and family for many years.

She taught herself how to play classical piano and paint prolific scenes of her childhood in her distinctive style. She was a lifelong writer of journals, poems, and short stories. Growing up on a farm and the coal mining heritage is the subject of most of her engaging stories and paintings.  Her paintings were an expression of a time when life was simple, and love and family relationships were the most important thing. She also loved the beauty of nature and used her flower garden and travels as inspirations. She worked hard to perfect her techniques. Recently, she entered art shows and received  recognition for her hard work and talent. In 2022, she won second prize and in 2022 and 2023 she won the People’s Choice Award at the Indiana Arts Association's yearly art shows. She is currently featured on the Indiana Arts Association’s wall at the Artist Hand Gallery until February 28th, 2024.  It is called 'In Remembrance of Things Past'.

Betty was a caring and loving mother, grand-mother and great grandmother, sister, and friend, and we were all lucky to have her in our lives.

Betty was a member of the IUP Women's Group, Indiana Art Association, Armchair Travelers, and various book clubs. She was also a member of the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall of Indiana, PA.

A memorial service will be held January 20th, 2024, 3:00pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, 450 E. Pike Rd, Indiana PA. Everyone is welcome.

A ‘Celebration of Life’ will be held January 21st, 2024, 2-4pm at the Artist Hand Gallery, 732 Philadelphia St.Memories and reflections of Betty’s life will be shared at 2:30pm. Refreshments will be available.  Everyone is welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ICCAP Food Pantry.