Elizabeth Jane Petrilla
Born on December 18, 1933 in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio. She was the oldest child of Andrew Michael Petrilla and Mary Martha Timko.
Description
Elizabeth, or Betty Jane as she was more commonly known, was slender of build who stood about 5 foot 7 inches in height. She had brown hair and blue eyes.
Early Years
- Childhood - Betty Jane had two brothers, Paul Albert and John David, as well as 35 maternal cousins. She spent the majority of her life as a roll model to both her siblings and cousins.
- Siblings
- Paul Albert Petrilla
- John David Petrilla
Education
Betty Jane graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 1952.
Religion
Elizabeth was baptized into the Catholic faith in January of 1934 in Warren,Trumbull County, Ohio.
Family Years
Married Edwin William Hietikko on December 5, 1953 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio. The couple had six children: one boys - Andrew William and five girls - Ann Lillian, Sue Ellen, Mary Elizabeth, Amy Jane and Laura Ellen. Sue Ellen on lived for 6 days before passing away.
The couple would have eventually have five children;
- Ann Lillian Hietikko
- Sue Ellen Hietikko
- Mary Elizabeth Hietikko
- Amy Jane Hietikko
- Laura Ellen Hietikko
Residences
During the Betty Jane's years in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, she lived with family in, rented or owned a total of five houses on the southwest side of the city.
- 978 Palmyra Road SW
- 815 Fifth Street
- 1453 Oak Street SW
Working Years
Homemaker and was employed at American Welding in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio for 23 years.
Business Ventures
Owned and operated a bookstore "Encore and More: in Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio. It traded in used paperback books and jigsaw puzzles. It opened in 1983 in a little home on Route 20 in Ashtabula. The house had a wood-burning fireplace which was lit every morning in the fall and winter months. Around it were rocking chairs where the customers could sit and look over books at their leisure. Three of her daughters ran the story while Betty Jane continued to work in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio. In 1991 she sold the store to spend more time with her husband. At the time of it's closing, the store had over 35,000 books. Rather than accept extremely low bids for the books (sold as a lot), Betty Jane donated them to nursing homes and libraries. She said, in doing so, she met a lot of nice people.
Personal Life
She loved to make afghans, write plays and dabble in family genealogy.
Death
Betty Jane died from acute hypoxic respiratory failure on December 23, 2018 at Ashtabula County Medical Center in Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio. She was cremated on December 28, 1981.