Betty June Lower
Betty June Lower passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026 at the age of 95 in Aurora, Ohio. Betty was born the second of three children on January 4, 1931 in Struthers, Ohio to Otis Calhoun Queen & Myrtle Bell Queen.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband John Lower, Sister Marinell Szalaj and brother Dale Queen.
She is survived by her children, Melissa Hauserman (Greg Sumner), Elyse Lower (Robert Baughman), Gretchen Sundermann (William); grandchildren Carter Sundermann (Alexandra), Evan Sundermann (Natalia), Rebecca Hauserman (Cameron Lada) and Olivia Hauserman (Alexander Maynard); and great grandchildren Emery, Ellis, Sophia and Isabella Sundermann.
She married John Lower, the love of her life, in 1960. The two shared a passion for travelling, and together they explored many corners of the world. In 1962, Betty and John built their home in Aurora, where they enjoyed hosting dinner parties with their friends and finishing the night with a few friendly—but competitive—rounds of bridge. Betty had great fondness for the small town where she would spend the rest of her life. She served on the Aurora Historical Society and was a long-term patron of the Aurora Little Theatre. Her love of gardening and fresh-cut flowers led to her tenure as the President of the Aurora Garden Club. It also inspired her to start a floral shop with two of her friends, the 1815 House of Flowers. Betty spent many warm spring and summer afternoons tending to her garden and enjoyed sharing her favorite plants with friends and family. She had an eye for floral arranging and enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to select and design bouquets.
Betty proudly carried on her family tradition of quilting, and was deeply passionate about her craft. She lovingly and meticulously created over 100 quilts in her lifetime. From baby blankets in early family photos, to peaceful afternoons spent dozing with nappies, to chilly northern nights made warm and comfortable under bed quilts, Betty’s quilts are loving fixtures in the lives of her friends and family. Betty’s passion and talent led to many happy moments of her own spent in her sewing room, surrounded by her brilliantly colored and perfectly indexed fabrics and presided over by her favorite amaryllis bulbs.
Most famously, her passion for quilting and her community led Betty to her beloved charity, Project Linus. Betty created and donated dozens of handcrafted quilts to Project Linus in her life, which provides quilts to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or hospitalized. She took great joy in collaborating with her friends to create and deliver colorful quilts to cheer children in their hour of need. Those who knew her looked forward to her latest Linus quilt update, which was sure to be filled with joy, color and love.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Project Linus. A celebration of Betty’s life is planned for early Fall 2026. Arrangements by Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, Chagrin Falls. www.stroudlawrence.com
Barbara A. Sampson
Barbara Ann Sampson, age 84 of Ravenna, passed away June 23, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born September 28, 1941, in Ravenna, Ohio, to parents Robert and Anna (Bretti) Huggins. She graduated in 1959 from Ravenna High School. She worked at Oak Rubber in Ravenna, Ohio where she met her husband, David Sampson.
Shirley Ann Bednarski
Shirley Ann Bednarski passed on June 23, 2026, at the age of 86, having been born on May 22, 1940, and was a resident of Adena, Ohio.
Matthew B. Kokochak
Matthew B. Kokochak, 48, of Kent, passed away suddenly on Monday, June 22, 2026. He was born in Akron on July 14, 1977 and was a beloved son to John and Melody Kokochak. He was the apple of their eye and they were very proud of him.
John C. White III
John Charles White III, 72, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.