Bettina Adams

Bettina Adams – our dear mother, devoted wife, affectionate sister, empathetic listener, prayerful supplicant, keen adventurer, curator of the best garden in the neighborhood, bird-feeder/enthusiast and general lover of nature,** – passed away peacefully at her home in Oakton on Monday, October 14 after a long, courageous battle with breast cancer. She was only 63. During her 9 year struggle, she strived to never yield nor let the disease define her; she wished to be a ‘beacon of light' to others. Our mother may have intended the metaphor for just her cancer battle, but it aptly describes Bettina’s character throughout her life.



Bettina was a transplant to northern Virginia by way of a small German town, Rosbach, where she was born to Elfriede and Georg Reichel. She completed her schooling at Adolf-Reichwein-Gymnasium, moved to the city, and began a career working for the finance industry in Frankfurt. It was here that she evolved into the truly independent people-loving woman we knew and loved.



Bettina was unfamiliar with the concept of ‘strangers’; those of you who are acquainted with her – we imagine there are quite a few of you – know how much of a social butterfly she could be. She was dynamic and a free bird driven by wanderlust, even in her youth: she constantly traveled with her friends, living for adventure. Her gregariousness led her to the love of her life, a fellow adventurer named Chris Adams, whom she met through a young adult skiing and hiking group organized by long-time friends.



She and Chris were married in Germany, but quickly moved to the US where they had two absolutely phenomenal children (we might be biased). From our perspective, it was in motherhood that Bettina shined the brightest. Her birthday parties for us were the events with the most elaborate homemade cakes: a computer, a fire truck, a Barbie, a horse, Minnie Mouse, one year even baking a 3 foot-long aircraft carrier. As we grew older, our mother delighted in teaching us the ins and outs of the kitchen, even having cake baking competitions with Patrick. She always strived for the best for us, and for that we are eternally grateful.



Bettina had a generous and benevolent soul. She often would volunteer her time, whether with her longtime faith home of Emmanuel Lutheran Church or by simply setting all else aside to lend an ear to help a friend in need.

(Cindy) As one anecdote, she served as my Girl Scout troop leader and was always so nice to everyone, to the point where my fellow Scouts all commented I had the ‘best mom,’ when she was supposed to have been just nice to me! Childhood jealousy aside, I realized that they were right: I do have the best mom and she cared for those girls as if they were my sisters.

(Patrick) When I was young, we used to have Star Trek sleepovers. Mom used to set everything up and I would bring my sleeping bag over so we could watch Star Trek: The Next Generation in the master bed until I fell asleep. She had a knack for making the ordinary feel extraordinary, and making you feel like you had all the love in the world.



Somehow, our mother made time for all of this and work. Her career with McLean Asset Management Corporation was ideal for her fastidious nature, and she made it her mission to know every client and shined as a 'passionate perfectionist'. She was a hard worker, a trusted confidant, and a close friend always striving to help each and every one of her clients and colleagues succeed.



Bettina’s other personal time was spent most either singing with her friends in Emmanuel’s choir or in rarer, tranquil moments of solitude in her garden. An avid gardener, our mother seemed to know every plant, tree and shrub by name, even those not found in her yard. We will always remember her by her beautiful garden, in which there always seemed to be just ‘one more thing’ for her (or often us!) to do.



On a personal note, we all deeply appreciate her friends being there through her recent struggle and giving her strength over these past few years, especially our family at Emmanuel Lutheran, her many cherished bridge partners, her MAMC family, and our neighbors. Seeing your faces, your cards and letters, and the meals you brought renewed an energy in our mother, helping accentuate her bright outlook.



Bettina is preceded in death by her loving husband of 33 years, Chris. She is survived by their son Patrick Adams and daughter Cindy Adams. She is also survived by brother Jürgen (Christa) Reichel, brothers-in-law Mark (Lynn) Adams and Todd (Blisse) Adams, and her nieces and nephews Kelsey (Casey, daughter Florence) Flanagan, Chris (Angelica, daughter Samantha) Adams, Elizabeth (Doug), Julia Adams, Meike Reichel, and Eva Reichel.



Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Money and King Funeral home (171 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180) on Friday October 25 from 5-8 PM. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, (2589 Chain Bridge Rd, Vienna, VA 22181) on Saturday October 26 at 11 AM.



In lieu of flowers, we are requesting donations to either Emmanuel Lutheran Church, a place we have called home for 26 years, or to the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (http://audubonva.org/donate), in memory of Bettina’s love of her garden and the many bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds that visited it.



**Notable exceptions include squirrels and chipmunks, as well as a general disappointment in the local deer population.