Marie "Betty" E. Penland

Marie E. “Betty” Sickels Penland passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 29, 2019 at the age of 91.

Born in Baltimore, and raised in Bethesda, MD Betty was the youngest of six children of the late Carl and Marie Plitt.   After graduating from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, she attended art schools and was active in the USO where she met and became a Navy wife to William “Bill” R. Sickels from 1949 until his passing in 1985.

Betty was an original home owner in the Buckingham Section of Belair at Bowie where she raised her seven children, five of whom still live in the area.  She was primarily an awesome homemaker but took on positions with Park Lane Jewelry sales, the Robert J. Brady Company and Prime Cable in customer service positions to support the household.  She is survived by her children Sue Williams (Walt), Leigh Couture (Jim), Dick, Larry, Betsy April (Bob), Joe (Carol), Christy Hammett (Mark). Betty also enjoyed a special relationship with her seventeen grandchildren: Marc, Sara, Justin, Carl, Leah, Jimmy, Larry Jr., William, Carlena, Michelle, Monica, Stephen, Nicole, Amie, Veronica, Beatrice, and Francis. Her seventeen great grandchildren brought her great delight.

Betty had a wonderful sense of humor, great smile and laugh, and was never one to miss a party.  She was an accomplished watercolor artist, crafter, seamstress and hobbyist. She had been an active member of the Bowie Art Guild and Red Hat Society.  She loved playing cards, doing daily crossword puzzles, and was a ruthless Scrabble player. Betty enjoyed the outdoors by working in her beautiful gardens, watching her backyard birds, or collecting sharks teeth at the Bay.  She was a long time member of Sacred Heart Church and active in its many programs including C.C.D., Glen Dale Hospital Outreach, Labor Day, Historical Society, House on the Hill, and Our Lady’s Sodality.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Sacred Heart Chapel Maintenance Fund, or Bowie Senior Center.

Visitors will be received at Beall Funeral Home Bowie, MD on Monday, February 4, 2019 at 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 16501 Annapolis Rd. Bowie, MD on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 11 a.m.