E. Sidebottom

Eleanor Elizabeth Kennedy Sidebottom, 95, of Edgewood, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday July 22nd at St. Elizabeth Hospice. Betty, as she was known by legions of friends and family, lived a remarkable life. While a student at Cincinnati Art School in 1940, she met William Parker Sidebottom and they eloped. William became a successful attorney who ran for statewide office, and things were looking up. Then William died unexpectedly in 1957, and left a 37-year old Betty to fend for herself and seven young children. Facing these burdens as a single mother in a man’s world, Betty buckled down and went to work. After surviving a harrowing gas explosion while working at the Cincinnati Airport in 1960, Betty began a successful career with Shillito’s Department Store, working 25 years until her retirement in 1985. In between work and shuttling children to and from school and activities, she was an active voice in the community and was a founding member of the Edgewood Homemakers. True to her Irish roots, Betty approached life with a mix of gritty perseverance, compassion, and optimism. The latter could be seen in her efforts volunteering with various charitable organizations and delivering food to the homeless with Meals on Wheels, which she continued doing well into her eighties. Above all else, she was devoted to her family, and she turned her home into a warm and welcome safe haven for her children, grandchildren and neighbors. She was renowned for her Christmas butter cookies. In the summer, she was known for her homemade ice cream and lighting off fireworks. Betty hosted great sled rides in her front yard during the winter snows. She was a world traveler, spending time in China, Mexico, England, Ireland and France, as well visiting her many friends and relatives around the country. Up until her very last days, she maintained a keen fashion sense and a creative streak, and could often be found sketching portraits and writing messages in backwards cursive. Betty possessed great curiosity and a thirst for learning and was a voracious reader her entire life. She was a good and honest person with a huge heart, who reared seven children into good human beings themselves. Betty persevered through hard times to live a long and eventful life, and she is survived by six children, 18 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, all of whom loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband William Parker and her eldest child Patricia Sidebottom. She is survived by her children, Susan Grefer ( Thomas) of Bellevue, KY, Martha Campbell (Jay) of Atlanta, GA, Sara Sidebottom of Crestview Hills, KY, Bill Sidebottom ( Barb) of Park Hills, KY, Dan Sidebottom (Jan) of Villa Hills, KY, and Mark Sidebottom (Myriam) of Westin, FL. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations can be made to: Parish Kitchen 141 W. Pike St. Covington, KY 41011, The Henry Hosea House 901 York St, Newport, KY 41071 or the Passionists Nuns Monastery. Online Condolences to: www.linnemannfuneralhomes.