Arety Bathje

ARETY (HARBELIS) BATHJE, WAS BORN 11/23/1938 TO JOHN & ANTIOPI HARBELIS OUTSIDE CHICAGO, IL. SHE AND HER THREE SISTERS), AND MARY (NASSOS), STELLA (PIERCE), GEORGIA (DI TUSA WERE FIRST GENERATION AMERICANS, AS THEIR PARENTS WERE BOTH BORN IN GREECE.

ARETY MARRIED THE LOVE OF HER LIFE ROBERT M (BOB) BATHJE, AND TRAVELLED THE NATION WHILE BOB WAS IN THE ARMY. AFTER FULFILLING HIS SERVICE DUTIES, THEY SETTLED BACK IN LOMBARD, IL WITH THEIR YOUNG FAMILY. 

JULY 1977, THE FAMILY MOVED TO GUNNISON. BOB AND ARETY WERE CO-OWNERS OF R&R PRECISION MACHINES IN GUNNISON, UNTIL THEIR RETIREMENT, AND TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP TO SON, STEVE. ARETY WAS BOOKKEEPER, ACCOUNTANT, AND ORGANIZER OF THE BUSINESS.

ARETY WAS A DEVOTED MEMBER OF MT CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH, WHERE SHE ALSO TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR OVER 25 YEARS. SHE ALSO WAS A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER FOR MANY YEARS WITH GUNNISON VALLEY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE, WHERE SHE TOUCHED MANY LIVES, AND WAS A FRIEND TO PATIENT AND STAFF MEMBERS ALIKE.

ARETY LEFT THIS WORLD ON 8/26/2024 TO JOIN HER LOVING HUSBAND BOB, SON ROBERT (ROB), SISTER MARY, AND HER PARENTS AND RELATIVES BEFORE HER.

SHE IS SURVIVED BY A COMMUNITY SHE LOVED AND CHERISHED, HER SON STEVE (JULIE) BATHJE, DAUGHTER KAREN BATHJE, GRANDSON ROBERT (JESSICA) BATHJE, GRANDDAUGHTER AMANDA (MICHAEL) BRACKETT, GRANDDAUGHTER SOPHIA (KUDZAI) MAKOMBE, GRANDSON ANDREW BATHJE, GRANDDAUGHTER AMANDA SPRITZER (BRAD BUCKHORN), AND GRANDSON SHANE (GARRETT) SPRITZER. ALSO SURVIVING ARE HER GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, LIEN BRACKETT, RJ BRACKETT, TYLER BRACKETT, BLAKE BATHJE; AND HER GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN EMMITT, ALAYAH, AND TRYTON.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH AT 10AM AT MT. CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH, IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS TO GUNNISON HOSPICE OR MT CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH.