Zuraski, Betty Died peacefully with her family by her side Saturday, September 18, 2010, at Zilber Family Hospice in Milwaukee, WI. She was born July 21, 1923, in Milwaukee. Beloved mother of Patrick (Karen) of Colorado Springs, CO and grandmother of Matthew, of Schaumburg, IL. She was the last of her siblings, preceded in death by sisters Ellen and Harriet, and brothers Tom and Gerald. Betty did her best over the past four years, fighting valiantly and refusing to submit to the stream of ailments that plagued her. Almost to the end, she continued to be engaged in refinishing furniture and hand-crafting "Betty boxes" for Christmas presents. Finally she succumbed to the cancer that moved so swiftly against her. For more than 30 years beginning in the 1950s, prior to retiring and buying her first house in 1986, Betty was a waitress at several of Milwaukee's fine restaurants, including Darby's, The Casino, Boulevard Inn, The Ringside, Sally's Steakhouse, The Golden Ox, The Top of the Marine, and at the time of her retirement, The Clock downtown. She loved her house and took great pride in single-handedly refinishing the vast amount of oak woodwork that it contained. Each spring she enthusiastically directed her attention to the hosta and tomato plants that she loved to tend in her yard. Prior to 2006, when the weather was not oppressive, every week she made regular Tuesday and Friday trips to Value Village thrift store, visiting with the "girls" and searching for "treasures" for decorating her home and to give as gifts to friends and family -- especially for Christmas, because she was always thinking about that holiday and how much she enjoyed it. Shopping excursions all over Milwaukee by bus to take advantage of the best price on steaks were commonplace. Betty also enjoyed passing time in thought, searching her mind for creative expressions that would have potential for the advertising campaigns of different companies. She was extremely successful in 1958, being selected as the national prize winner for a jingle contest sponsored by Libby Foods, winning a significant cash prize and a two-week Caribbean cruise. Even in the last months of her life, she was still tossing clever ad expressions over in her mind, writing them down, and sharing them with friends and family, and even with the nurses that tended to her. Betty enjoyed the love of her family and will be deeply missed. We will continue to be inspired by her ability to endure adversity. There will be no visitation or memorial serviceMemorials:. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society of Wisconsin.