- December 4, 2025
It is with great sadness that the family of Elizabeth (Betty) Barkelew Coniff announces the passing of their beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Elizabeth (Betty) Barkelew was born September 10, 1921 to Emma Mailler Barkelew and Reuben Swift Barkelew in Jersey City, New Jersey. She grew up in Roselle, NJ, where she was active in St. Paul’s Methodist Church and graduated from Roselle High in 1939. She married John Coniff on November 6, 1943 and moved to Roselle Park, NJ. They had two children, Belinda and John (Jack). Betty was active in the Boy and Girl Scouts, Mom’s Club, Little League, PTA and St. Luke’s Ev. Lutheran Church.
In 1963 the family moved to Cochabamba, Bolivia, S.A. for four and ½ years. While there she started a PTA at the Cochabamba Cooperative School, was President of the American/Bolivian Women’s Club and started a support program for the local orphanage. Upon returning to the U.S., she worked as a Customer Representative for Elizabethtown Gas Co until retiring in 1985.
On November 1st, 1989 Betty and John moved to Palm Coast. Betty was predeceased by her parents, Emma and Reuben Barkelew, her brother and sister in law James and Janet Barkelew, her niece Linda Burrough, her husband John and son, Jack.
Betty is survived by her beloved daughter and sole caregiver Belinda, daughter in law Beverley Coniff, grandson John (Caitlyn) Coniff, granddaughter Colleen Weir (Nick), great grandchildren Blake Elizabeth Weir and Logan Jack Weir.
Betty has always been a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord. She was a multi talented woman who passed on her love of traveling, gardening, crocheting, knitting, reading, cooking, entertaining and learning to her family.
In lieu of flowers and in memory of Betty, please make donations to St. Jude’s, Shriners Hospital for Children, the Sheriff’s Youth Ranches or their new Learning Center.
Services were entrusted to Volusia Memorial Funeral Home – Ormond Beach.
