Elizabeth "Betty" Tenney Bickel

May 3, 1925 - December 1, 2013

Elizabeth Tenney Bickel, born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 3, 1925, to Peter James Tenney and Bessie Riley Tenney, died peacefully at her home in Santa Barbara surrounded by her loving children on December 1, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., after a year-long battle with cancer.Betty, as she was known to all, is survived by her children, Edward Adams Bickel, David Harding Bickel, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Horrigan, and Peter Evenden Bickel; fourteen grandchildren; and her ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 50 years, Edward Evenden Bickel (d. 2003), and youngest son, Robert Tenney Bickel (d. 1963).Betty was devoted to her family, but she also found time to own and operate her own business, spend countless hours in service to her church and her community, as well as pursue her enjoyment of cooking and needlework. She was an active parishioner at Trinity Episcopal Church for more than 50 years. Betty volunteered her time, her leadership and organizational skills, her wit and humor, as well as her love for helping others in service to her church family by cooking, knitting prayer shawls, quilting blankets for needy children, fund-raising, and participating on various church committees and boards.A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara on December 21, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow in the church hall.The family wishes to thank the staffs at Sansum Clinic Family Practice, Sansum Clinic Oncology, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara for their kind and compassionate care during Betty's illness. It is Betty's wish that remembrances be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.