Bethine C. Filion

"Queen Bethine" Bethine Catherine Blach was born in Yuma, Colorado on October 7, 1928.

The eldest daughter of 8 siblings, she was second generation American with Austrian immigrant grandparents. She excelled in school and was top of her class in her one-room schoolhouse. Besides learning hobbies like cooking, baking, sewing and cross-stitching, she looked after her younger siblings on the farm in CO, molding her into a very hard worker from a very early age. Each day, she rose with the sun to help care for her family's expansive homestead farm.

In a time when not many women went to college, she was accepted to and graduated from Loretta Heights College with honors. She secured a job in California as a teacher, and also worked as a wartime nurse. She went on a blind, double-date at the bequest of one of her friends, where she ended up meeting the love of her life. He was soon to start military training camp and then be deployed, but he was smitten with her. He wrote her hundreds of letters throughout training camp and during his hospital stay wherein he narrowly escaped dying from rheumatic fever.

In 1955, she married Richard T Filion surrounded by family and friends. Bethine had 4 children and 4 grandchildren : Gregory R Filion in 1959 (m. Jodi Leisure, Margaret Filion with children - Maggie "Dillon" Filion (m. TJ Warren with child Sterling Warren) & Brennan G Filion), Laura Filion (m. Masoud Abbasi), Paul Filion (m. Jodi Filion with children Kyle & Jack Filion), and Scott Filion (m. Michele Filion). All family remain proud, devout Catholics like Bethine. Besides raising her kids, she volunteered for the church and taught English at the local Hebrew Academy. Students adored her and many wrote letters to her well past their graduation.

Bethine had the most jovial spirit, was a woman of faith, had the most infectious laugh, and a beautiful voice. She enjoyed singing and was a marvelous singer, participating in the Church Choir and knowing every word to every song. She was a member of the Purple Hat Society and an avid golfer. She and Richard traveled the world together when they retired and spent each spring in Arizona, and later in Florida. She was extremely open-minded and well-read and loved being a mother and grandmother. She was known for her caring, loving, considerate nature and was never late in sending a thoughtful, handwritten card for every birthday and holiday.

Richard died in 2016 which broke her heart, but she persisted for her family. In 2023, a dementia diagnosis moved her to Prosper Care at Wickliffe, OH where she made many friends and was well-liked by the staff for her enduringly sharp mind and sense of humor.

She is survived by her sister, Colleen Blach, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild. She went to heaven on February 20, 2026. She was 97 years old. Services will be held on June 5th, 2026 at St. Paschal Baylon Church in Cleveland, OH.