Proud Lenola girl, Betty Coneby, 89, of Moorestown, NJ died Saturday, May 25, 2019 at home surrounded by family.

One of Betty's most common phrases was, "I can manage." If you're worried just now about money, kids, health or just life in general, take a breath and learn from someone who did much with little. When calamity struck, she would  tell her husband, Glenn, that things could be worse. To which he would reply, "How, Bett, how could things possibly be worse?" She told him not to worry; she can manage.

They started their married life together, both 20 years old, living in her parents' chicken coop. He built their home next door, one load of cinderblocks and lumber at a time, as they could manage. The kids came along every two years like clockwork. Betty managed even while caring for two kids still in the coop. They proudly moved into their small cape cod on Center Street. Then came babies number three and four.  Glenn worked long hours plus side jobs while Betty managed the four stairstep kids at home. To feed them well, she tended a large vegetable garden and berry patch.  After hours in the garden, she would come in to clean up any havoc wrecked by her now infamous offspring. Hyjinks in the neighborhood often needed smoothing over. Each child who came along was more rambunctious than the one before, and the youngest was a girl!

With the house then bursting with sneaky teens and wild children, Glenn was worried to find Betty expecting again.  There is a saying among the older families of Center Street, "Never start a prank war with a Coneby." Even though their fifth child, yet another boy, followed in this trend, Betty said, "I can manage."

Betty was a big believer in saving and making do with what she had. She put aside whatever she could by living thriftly and bought utility stocks. In the end, it was enough plus some. She could manage.

Although she grew up in the Depression, she saw her childhood as idyllic. She rode horses at neighboring farms and orchards. She read every book in the Lenola library.  She was an enthusiastic Girl Scout. She was a young teen at the height of WWII. As a younger child she saw the Hindenburg fly overhead, and later she was trained as a plane spotter.  She was studious as a girl and sometimes regretted not continuing her education.  She delighted in her children's and grandchildren's academic achievements.

As the kids got older, Betty worked part time in the school cafeteria. She also worked several years at a Girl Scout camp. Her last job she held for many years as a bookkeeper for a trucking company. She still found time to often watch the grandchildren and keep a garden. She could manage.

In retirement she watched toddlers every week while their mothers attended a Bible study. Widowed at 70, her friendships deepened as she stepped from behind her husband's larger than life personality. She had always managed the finances and the household; she was prepared for life on her own.

Proud, self-sufficient Betty would tell you that throughout her life she could not have managed without her faith in Jesus. She found great comfort and companionship studying the Bible at Immanuel Baptist Church. Her life will be celebrated there.

Immanuel Baptist Church

Maple Shade, NJ

Wednesday, May 29th

Viewing 6 pm

Funeral 7:30 pm

Preceding her in death are her husband, Glenn Coneby, her parents, George and Florence Waterfield, her brother, George Waterfield, Jr., her daughter in law, Cheryl Coneby and her great grandson, Dylan Coneby.

She is survived by: two younger sisters, Beth Waterfield and Barbara Bowen, all five children, Bill Coneby, Tim Coneby and his wife, Kathy, Terry Coneby and his wife, Diane, Candy Coneby, Randy Coneby and his wife, Sarah, 19 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren