Obituary of Beatrice Mary Elizabeth

Beatrice "Betty" Mary Elizabeth Jerge, age 85, of Whitewater, WI passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at the Agrace Center for Hospice & Palliative Care in Janesville, Wisconsin. Betty was born in Syracuse, New York on August 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, New York, class of 1947 and graduated from Powelson Business College, class of 1948. On January 17, 1959, Betty married Raymond "Ray" Jacob Jerge at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Syracuse. Ray preceded her in death on November 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, West Virginia. In 1965 Ray's employer, Pure Oil, relocated them to Roselle, Illinois and in 1967, Ray was transferred with The Union Oil Company of California and the family moved to St. Clairsville, Ohio. Ray and Betty were past members for 32 years at St. Mary's Catholic Church in St. Clairsville, Ohio 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, Kentucky 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, Wisconsin. 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, Munster, Indiana and Mary (Tim) Reid, Janesville, WI, Grandchildren: Michael, Scott, Katherine, and Eric Jerge and Molly, Ellen, Andrew, and Lauren Reid, Sister: Sheila (Ernie) Etoll, Syracuse, NY, Nieces and Nephews: Eileen (Bill) Lynch, Watertown, Ct, David (Connie Companaro) Kraus, Buffalo, NY, Neal (Jennifer) Kraus, St. Paul, MN, Stephen (Jill) Etoll, Syracuse, NY, Daniel (Trine) Etoll, Syracuse, NY, Tom (Kristin) Etoll, Syracuse, NY, and Megan Etoll, Syracuse, NY. Betty was preceded in death by an infant sister Kathleen, her parents,�her sister Noreen, her husband Ray, and her brother-in-law Don Kraus. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016, at 11:00 AM 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, Wisconsin. Visitation will be after 10AM on Saturday, January 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, Wisconsin is assisting the family.