Jan. 13,
1933 - Sept. 28, 2008SOUTH BEND - Elizabeth A. Craig, 75, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 28th, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. She was born in Chicago, IL, on January 13, 1933, to Helen Weldon Pflum and Leo William Pflum. She moved to Springfield, IL, where she grew up, attending Blessed Sacrament Grade School (1946) Ursuline Academy (1950) and then graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, IN (1954). She graduated with a BS degree, majoring in biology and chemistry. On August 7, 1954, in Springfield, IL, she married Lt. George B. Craig Jr. of Chicago. He preceded her in death on December 21, 1995. Dr. Craig was on the biology faculty at the University of Notre Dame for almost 40 years. Four children were born to the couple, James Francis (Roberta) Craig of Niles, MI, Mary Catherine Craig of South Bend, who died on February 4, 1978, Patricia Ann (Patrick Maguire) Craig of Chicago and Sarah Lynn Craig of Niles, MI. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Lindsay, Dustan, Maureen and Sean Craig, Madalynn, Mitchell and Tyler Peterek; two step-grandchildren and a step-great-grandchild; a sister, Rita Midden of Springfield, IL; a sister-in-law, Mary Kay Burch of San Diego, CA; 17 nieces and nephews. A brother, Ray Pflum, and a sister, Sr. Helen Pflum, preceded her in death. Betty, as she was known, served 18 years as a Girl Scout leader in South Bend. She led troops of brownies, juniors and cadets. She was a board member of Girl Scouts Singing Sands Council for several years and served as board secretary for 16 years. In 1984 Betty was elected president of the Girl Scouts and served in that capacity for six years. In addition she was a trainer specializing in arts and crafts for the Girl Scouts. She was a den mother for three years for the Boy Scouts of America, and frequently led training sessions for den mothers. Betty was a member of the Prairie Club of Chicago and was the leader of the Juniors of Camp Hazelhurst for 10 years. She served as Camp Hazelhurst chair for two years in the early 1980s. She became camp secretary and served in that capacity for 20 years. She began to study oil painting in 1964 with the late Phyllis Gandy. During the next 30 years, Betty studied with many, many art teachers in South Bend and the southern Michigan area. She left behind over 1000 works of art. She continued to paint to the present. Over a period of 30 years, she participated in many art shows and fairs in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Through the years, Betty volunteered at various schools attended by her children. In 1990 she became a docent/tour guide at the Snite Museum of Art at Notre Dame and the South Bend Regional Museum of Art. Volunteering was part of her existence. She was a member of The Northern Indiana Artists, The St. Joseph Valley Watercolor Society, The South Bend Regional Museum of Art, The Snite Museum of Art, The Save the Dunes Council, The Girl Scouts of the USA, The Prairie Club of Chicago, The South Bend Area Genealogical Society, The Ladies of Notre Dame / St. Mary's, The University Club of Notre Dame and Sacred Heart Parish. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2nd, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1st, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where a wake prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. The family request that memorial contributions be made to The Prairie Club, 135 Addison, Suite 212, Elmhurst, IL 60126; to Girls Scouts of Singing Sands, 3620 Deahl Court, South Bend, IN 46628; or to The Haiti Program, University of Notre Dame, 315 Galvin Life Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46656. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at welshfh@yahoo.com. The South Bend Tribune 09/30, 2008