Betty Lou Goodwin Candela, aged 90, of North Fort Myers, FL, passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at Hope Hospice House, Cape Coral, FL, following a short illness. Born May 14, 1927 in Ashtabula, Ohio, to John Benham Goodwin and Ann Goodwin, Betty Lou graduated from Ashtabula High School in 1947. She married Francis Earl Candela on December 27, 1958 in her parent's home in Ashtabula.
Betty Lou was employed by Iten Fibre of Ashtabula from 1947 to 1961, where she met her future husband at the 1949 company Christmas Party. From 1974 to 1990, she worked as a lunchroom server and aide for the Ashtabula Area City Schools and Washington School and later Chesnut School. Betty Lou also worked as a cook at Holiday Inn of Ashtabula, later Comfort Inn, from 1979 until her retirement in 2007. She relocated to Florida in 2011.
An avid crocheter, Betty also enjoyed sewing, reading mystery and romance novels, tending to her rose garden, and many soap operas, her favorite being The Young and the Restless. She also loved animals, Betty Boop, Elvis Presley, teddy bears, and angels. She was fond of singing the chorus of "Que Sera Sera" whenever she encountered adversity.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a step-father, Charles Isaac Hurtman; her husband, and sisters, Beverly Robinson, and Ruth Rocco. She is survived by her sister, Hilda Marie Campbell of Ashtabula, OH; her son, Jon Candela, and his partner, Thomas Lee Boykin, of North Fort Myers, FL; and her favorite nieces, Karla Robinson of Myrtle Beach, SC, Tamara Hilt of Richview, IL, Stormee Lupo of Winterhaven, FL and Stephanie Candela of Jefferson, Ohio.
The family would like to thank all those who helped care for Betty Lou during the last two years, especially the staff at Heartland Health Care in Fort Myers, FL and Hope Hospice House.
At Betty's request, no services will be observed. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Hospice of Southwest Florida or the ASPCA. Interment will take place at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, North Kingsville, Ohio. Final arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Services.

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