Beatrice "Betty" Mary Elizabeth Jerge, Whitewater, WI

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

August 15, 1930 - January 24, 2016

Beatrice “Betty” Mary Elizabeth Jerge, age 85, of Whitewater, WI, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, at the Agrace Center for Hospice & Palliative Care in Janesville, WI. Betty was born in Syracuse, NY, on Aug. 15, 1930, the eldest daughter of immigrants from County Sligo, Ireland, Martin and Nora (Quinn) O’Grady. She graduated from St. John the Evangelist High School in Syracuse, NY, class of 1947, and graduated from Powelson Business College, class of 1948. On Jan. 17, 1959, Betty married Raymond “Ray” Jacob Jerge at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Syracuse. Ray preceded her in death on Nov. 6, 2012. Betty worked as an executive secretary for General Electric Company in Syracuse until 1961, when their first child was born. She was a devoted wife and mother and when her children were older, she taught business classes at Northeastern Business College in Wheeling, WV. In 1965, Ray’s employer, Pure Oil, relocated them to Roselle, IL, and in 1967, Ray was transferred with The Union Oil Company of California and the family moved to St. Clairsville, OH. Ray and Betty were past members for 32 years at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Clairsville, OH, where they both served as Eucharistic Ministers and took communion to the local nursing home for 18 years. She was secretary of the Catholic Women’s Club. They both were active members of the Home and School Association at St. Mary’s Grade School in Ohio. Betty was also very active in the Welcome Wagon in Ohio and served as a Cub Scout Den Leader and a Girl Scout Leader. Following retirement, Betty and Ray resided in Murray, KY, for 13 years. They were both very active members of St. Leo’s Church in Murray, KY, and St. Henry’s Church in Aurora, KY. Betty was a member of the Catholic Women’s Club, the Ladies Guild, volunteered at St. Leo’s rectory as a secretary, and helped provide luncheons for funerals, Murray Women’s Club, Volunteer at the National Scouting Museum, and a Red Hatter. In the Fall of 2011, Betty and Ray moved to Fairhaven in Whitewater, WI. Betty was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Whitewater, and a member of the Fairhaven Choir. Betty will be remembered as a loyal, loving, and faithful servant of God, strong in her Catholic faith. She was proud of her 100 % Irish heritage, dedicated to her husband, children, and grandchildren, committed to her family, church, and community. She had a friendly and outgoing personality who always had a smile on her face and a thoughtful, positive outlook on life. She was the rock of her family, and a supporter of higher education and encouraged her children and grandchildren in pursing their dreams of higher education. Betty was hardworking with great attention to detail. Ray and Betty made many sacrifices along the way to help their children and grandchildren and be a constant force of support in their lives.

Surviving are two children, Martin (Cindy) Jerge of Munster, IN, and Mary (Tim) Reid of Janesville, WI; grandchildren: Michael, Scott, Katherine, and Eric Jerge and Molly, Ellen, Andrew, and Lauren Reid; a sister, Sheila (Ernie) Etoll of Syracuse, NY; nieces and nephews: Eileen (Bill) Lynch of Watertown, Ct, David (Connie Companaro) Kraus of Buffalo, NY, Neal (Jennifer) Kraus of St. Paul, MN, Stephen (Jill) Etoll of Syracuse, NY, Daniel (Trine) Etoll of Syracuse, NY, Tom (Kristin) Etoll of Syracuse, NY, and Megan Etoll of Syracuse, NY. Betty was preceded in death by an infant sister, Kathleen; her parents; and a sister, Noreen; her husband, Ray; and her brother-in-law, Don Kraus.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1225 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI, with Father Mark Niehaus celebrating. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Whitewater, WI. Visitation will be after 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, at the CHURCH until the time of the Mass.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to Boys Town of Omaha, Nebraska.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Sean Kelly, Dr. Steve Bartz, Dr. Dai Yamanouchi of UW Hospital-Madison, Fairhaven of Whitewater, WI, Dr. Janet Fechter and Mercy Whitewater, St. Patrick Catholic Church and Father Mark, Dr. Kim and Heather, RN second floor at Mercy Hospital, Father Brian Dulli,and Agrace Hospice for the loving care they gave to Betty.

The NITARDY FUNERAL HOME, Whitewater, WI, is assisting the family