Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Lovegren's Obituary
Beloved San Diego artist and entertainer Elizabeth “Betty” Lovegren died peacefully at her home in her husband’s arms on January 9, 2015, losing her 3-1/2 year battle with multiple myeloma. Elizabeth Ann Mary Lovegren was born on August 12, 1944 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She grew up in Toronto, Canada and moved to San Diego in 1995.Betty possessed a genuine and rare relationship to humanity and the world around her. She maintained the pure wonderment and innocence of a wide-eyed, little girl and spread that joyful energy freely to others. Betty brightened the life of everyone she met.As a resident artist at San Diego’s Seaport Village for 20 years, her face painting, body art, glitter tattoos, and henna work were enjoyed by thousands of people. Many out of town customers returned annually so their children could experience Betty’s art and personal charm again. She loved painting the children of the many she painted as children.Betty loved being Mrs. Claus, a character she has done for nearly 40 years. She appeared annually in the parade for Santa’s Arrival at Seaport Village. Her Mrs. Claus was also a fixture for many years at the San Diego Zoo. Countless Zoo visitors took photos with her as Backpacker Betty, the Zoo Know-It-All for many years. Betty’s dynamic, multifaceted artistic and performance talents were highly sought after for seen at corporate events, private parties, and birthday parties and Bar and Bat Mitzvah events. Betty Lovegren Entertainment provided not only Betty’s own talents, but those of a whole cadre of other artists and entertainers.Betty is survived by husband, Jon Lovegren of San Diego, son Kevin Strooband (Patricia Duggan) and granddaughter Brigette Strooband of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; son Bud Thompson, (Jessica Cooksey) and granddaughter Ava Thompson of El Cajon; stepson Ethan Martin of Cleburne, Texas, stepson Keegan Lovegren-King of San Diego and step-grandson Devin McGowan of Lakeside. Also her sister Catherine “Cat” Conner of North Hollywood, California and nephew Rob Townsend of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.A public Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at 2 pm, Sunday, January 18, 2015 at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Betty’s name to the International Myeloma Foundation https://online.myeloma.org/NetCommunity/tribute-pages/betty-lovegren (myeloma.org). More information on Betty’s life are found at www.bettylovegren.comDonations to: International Myeloma Foundation 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206 North Hollywood, CA 91607-3421 USA InfoLine:800-452-2873 or 818-487-7455 http://myeloma.org/Main.action
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