Elizabeth “Bette” Malcolm (Hagberg) Vile, affectionately known as Gram by all those who knew and loved her, was born April 18, 1926 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Svea Charlotta Wetterstrand and Gustaf Albin Andersson Hagberg, both born in Sweden. She was the youngest of seven children, Lillian (1917-1919), Hilda Jeannette (1918-2001), Charlotte Frances (1920-2008), Elaine Dawn (1921-2004), Gussie Mary Bell (1923-2016), and Ray Jan Albin (1924-2011). The children were born in either Ohio or West Virginia, but opportunity brought the family to the prospering city of Miami, Florida in 1926. Here, the Hagberg children grew, went to school, worked, married, began families, nurtured grandchildren, and enjoyed every moment of life as a family.
Bette saw so much in her 96 years. The making of the automobile, the roaring twenties, the Great Depression, six major wars, Apollo 11 landing on the moon, televisions and radios becoming common household items, Charles Lindbergh’s nonstop transatlantic flight, the adoption of the Star-Spangled Banner as our national anthem, the Civil Rights Movement, commercial air travel, the assassination of prominent political leaders, the development of the Internet, and the invention of smart phones, just to name a few. She was witness to all this and more, fully appreciating the times of prosperity and graciously enduring the hardships of life, passing on her mother’s famous adage, “This too shall pass.”
Bette came from a family full of kindness, strength, perseverance, forgiveness, determination, generosity, and most of all, love. She passed these traits on to her family and all who were touched by her beautiful soul are better people because they knew her. She was predeceased by her husbands, Claude Carson Everett, Jr. and Charles James Vile, two daughters, Claudia Diane (Everett) Bradley Bostwick and Elizabeth Ann (Everett) Dodd as well as her son-in-law, John Darwynn Dodd, and her step-grandson, Michael Jonathan Vile. Bette is survived by her stepdaughter, Stacey Lee (Vile) Pedersen, married to Robert, and her stepson, Michael Sean Vile, married to Frances. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Michael Carson Bostwick, married to Chelsie, Tamara Diane Dodd-Hallo, married to Robert, John Travis Dodd, married to Kerri; her step-grandchildren, David Michael Pedersen, married to Morgan, Joshua Charles Pedersen, married to Hannah, and Rebekah Louise (Pedersen) Buchanan, married to Ezekiel; and great-grandchildren Bradley Ryan and Conner Mitchell Bostwick, Gwenyth Diane and Svea Elizabeth Hallo, and Ethan John and Emi Rachel Dodd. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and friends, all who will cherish her memory.
Gram will always be part of us and we will carry her laughter, wisdom, teachings, and unconditional love in our hearts forever.
Memorial services for Mrs. Vile will be held Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 3:00pm at Auburn United Methodist Church’s, Founders Chapel. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.