Betty Ann Ens

Betty Ann Ens, 82 of Oswego, passed away with family at her side on Monday, March 25, 2024, at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, IL.  

Betty was born on August 17, 1941, in Greeneville, Tennessee to John Seth Knight Sr. and Darra Mae Knight. It was during her youth growing up in Greeneville that she developed a love for the outdoors and anything to do with nature. 

Her parents relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, and that is where she graduated high school, and fell in love with Ed “the BEAR” Ens. They would start their life there in Ohio, then moving to Illinois, first settling in Berwyn, and then moving west to Lisle and then settling in Naperville. She spent the last several years close to her son and grandchildren in Oswego.  

One of Betty’s first jobs was with Woolworth’s, and then on to AT&T as a phone operator and then finally retiring from Nalco Chemical Corp. in Naperville. She would often say one of her proudest working moments was early on as an operator she was able to patch through a call from the White House! 

She loved the music of her youth, anything from the 50’s-60’s bur her favorites were Elvis and Barry Manilow. Betty also enjoyed some country music.  She would often tell the story of running through the parking lot in the rain at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, almost getting hit by a passing by car, and who was it that rolled down the window to ask if she was ok? None other than Elvis himself.  

She enjoyed Caribbean Cruises with her children Ed and Yvette. She and BEAR spent time traveling to Hawaii and going to the casinos in Las Vegas. Above all else, she relished the time spent with her son and grandchildren taking them out to dinner whenever possible. At home, she enjoyed reality nature shows such as Naked and Afraid, Alaskan Bush People and Swamp People. She said they reminded her of the outdoors she remembered fondly growing up in Tennessee.  

Betty is survived by her son Ed and his children Tawnee, Winter, and Eddie; nieces and nephews Mitzy Brown, Bob Knight, Theresa Knight, Tim Knight, Sherry and John Michael Knight. She was preceded in death by her parents, former husband Ed “the bear;” children Daffeney Fae, Jonathan Edward and Yvette Ens and her siblings John Seth Jr., Blain, Luther and Mickey. 

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 1, 2024, at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Aurora, IL.  

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