Obituary of Elizabeth Cecelia Stiver

Elizabeth (Betty) C. (McMunn) Stiver, 94, of Durham, NC passed away August 14, 2021, at Duke Hospice-Hock Family Pavilion in Durham, NC. She was the wife of the late Lawrence (Dubby) G. Stiver who preceded her in death on August 27, 2012. Betty was born in Turtle Creek, PA, a daughter of the late Verner and Catherine McMunn. She graduated from Wilmerding High school in 1944 where she was a standout basketball player. Her engagement in 1947 was very unconventional. Her future husband proposed on her birthday while she was in the hospital recovering from an automobile accident. She was mortified that he did not ask her in a more romantic setting, but he had planned to propose on her birthday and was determined to get the ring on her finger. Of course, she said yes. After her wedding in 1947 she moved to Irwin, PA where she lived for many years with her strong husband and her children, who were all above average, before retiring to Belleview, FL in 1988. After her husband passed, she moved to Durham, NC to be closer to family and remained there until her passing. Throughout her married life Betty did not work outside the home but spent her time loving her family and keeping her home clean, well-organized and tastefully decorated. She was a stickler for proper nutrition and insisted that you finish everything on your plate before you could leave the table. That meant some very late nights at the table for her strong-willed sons when meals included peas or brussel sprouts or liver. In Betty’s spare time she crafted gorgeous hats adorned with beautiful feathers and knitted Christmas stockings for each of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed attending Army reunions with her husband and traveling the country with him and family in an RV. Even after she retired to Florida, she maintained a campground property in Pennsylvania where she spent her summers in the RV. Betty was very devoted to the Catholic faith and a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Belleview, FL. Elizabeth is survived by daughters, Kathleen Tucci of Cranberry, PA and, Joy Toews and her husband Rockford of Annapolis, MD and sons, Lawrence E. Stiver and his wife Regina of Cary, NC and Edward Stiver and his wife Lisa Laws of Durham, NC. She has 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 5946 SE Robinson Road, Belleview, FL 34420 on Friday, September 17th from 8:30AM - 9:00AM. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 17 at 10:00 AM at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Belleview, FL. Interment will be at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. Memorials may be made to either the Saint Theresa Belleview Soup Kitchen or the Alzheimer’s Association http://act.alz.org/goto/BettyStiver . Be sure to include “Betty Stiver Memorial” on your check to the Soup Kitchen. Condolences may be left at: Hiers-Baxley.com.