Bette Hendry Bollinger's Obituary
Bette Hendry Bollinger of Fort Myers, Florida passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Sunday, August 18, 2019 following some recent health challenges.Bette was born on January 23rd in Tampa and was the beautiful daughter to Leah Cullen (Crevasse) and Edward E. Hendry. She was a life-long resident of Florida and was a 5th generation member of the pioneer Hendry family. Bette grew up in Bonita Springs on a 26-acre homestead in Bonita Bay where her father was the owner and operator of a commercial fishing company. She had fond memories of her youth and the time she spent with Dad learning to swim, fish, set crab traps, mend fishing nets and even scraping barnacles from the bottom of the fleet. Sadly, Bette’s father passed away from a heart attack while out at sea when she was only 12 and her youngest sibling was only 4 months old. She always recalled with fondness the kindness of friends following her Dad’s death and the helping hands extended to her family at such a moment of great loss. Bette’s mother worked several jobs to help make ends meet and keep the family together and was not only successful with that, but also found the way to let her kids enjoy their childhood. Bette loved sports and was a Fort Myers High School Greenies Cheerleader, she played basketball, was a member of the swim team and glee club, played the french horn and was a majorette in the marching band. Bette worked weekends and after school in Downtown Fort Myers at Washburn’s Pharmacy, McCrory’s and at several dress shops. She even found some time to be a member of the Edison Pageant of Light and was a Princess of the Court. Despite the hardships as she grew up, it instilled in Bette the importance of family and a profound sense of love for her siblings. She was proud to be her brother’s and mother’s caregiver prior to their deaths and always took care of her family.In later years, Bette would become the loving mother to two wonderful children, Bruce Edward Bollinger and Tracey Lee Bollinger, She would also attain professional credentials in several key sectors, including licensure for over 20 years as a real estate agent, certification to teach business administration and also as a licensed nutritional counselor who simultaneously owned and operated two health food stores.Bette leaves to cherish her loving memory her children Bruce and Tracey; her grandchildren Jaeann Ashton (Blair), Brett, Austin and Erin Bollinger and great-grandchildren Juliana and Beckett Ashton, Sadly, she was predeceased by her parents, brother Edward Murdock Hendry and sister Irene Goulding. Bette also leaves behind a large extended family along with many others who were proud to call her a friend. She will be warmly remembered and fondly missed by all who knew and loved her.A Funeral Service for Bette will be celebrated by Pastor David Goins at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 23, 2019, inside the Chapel at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555. Friends will be received for an hour preceding this ceremony beginning at 10:00 AM also inside the funeral home chapel. At the conclusion of these ceremonies, friends and family will recess to adjacent Memorial Gardens Cemetery where Bette will be laid to rest inside the North section of the Christus Garden. All are welcome to attend her memorial services.To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time, please visit Bette’s memorial webpage located at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign her guestbook
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