Betty Jane Whitemarsh

Betty Jane Whitemarsh

Betty Jane Whitemarsh (Martin), 86, of Sauk City, Wisconsin passed away on Monday, April 1, 2013 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Sauk City. Betty was a caring and loving daughter, mother, sister, grandmother and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Betty was born on March 10, 1927, the daughter of Ray and Adeline Martin. She born and raised in Chicago, IL and later finished high school in Omro, WI. Betty is survived by her six children, Broni Maranger (Mark) – Oregon, Dr. Darylann Whitemarsh- Oshkosh, Dennis Whitemarsh- Princeton, Wayne Whitemarsh (Pam)-Sauk City , Brian Whitemarsh (Mary)-Hudson, and Gordon Whitemarsh (Marie)-Wisconsin Rapids. She is survived by twenty-one grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren on the way. She is also survived by her three sisters and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Gordon Whitemarsh.

From the time Betty was a child she pursued life with passion and a zest that has been unmatched. She believed in giving one hundred percent of herself in everything that she did. Betty also shared a deep love from a young age for people, the theatre, and music. She loved singing and wouldn’t just sing, but she would let the songs come from her soul. She loved brightening the faces of the people dear to her through songs and laughter, and carried that passion with her throughout her entire life.

Betty married the love of her life, Gordon Earl Whitemarsh, on Feb 21, 1948. Dad was her greatest love and she loved building a life with him and her six children. By far, her husband and children were Betty’s greatest passions in life as she thrived caring for them and watching them grow. Her delight increased as she became a nana and great-grandmother to many devoted grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She truly loved the simple moments shared with her family. Betty lived for the moments when her family was all together and she loved all the energy generated from having each person she loved in one place. She was very proud of her family and of her Italian and Irish roots. She always took the opportunity to tell her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of past memories and family members. Betty not only was a homemaker, but she also was her husband’s side when it came to business. Gordon started a real estate business in 1960 and Betty was right beside him through that process from day one. She worked in the office and filled it with her warmth and energy. They were a team and best friends in every sense of the word. Former clients still ask about Betty and share stories about her energy and humor when they talk to the family. Betty truly lived a life well lived. She had such a deep sense of self and such an acute awareness of others. She truly loved the people in her life, from her friends to her family. If Betty was with us now she’d cheer us up with a few songs and encourage us to be positive and to cherish the past memories. She’d also tell us to look ahead, treasure one another, and concentrate on the present moment, because those were the moments that were so dear to her. We will miss our Betty Jane, mother, friend, sister, grandmother and great grandmother, but we will forever remember the beautiful times that we shared with her. Her animated stories, contagious laughter, and giving heart will be remembered for a lifetime and will live on throughout each one of us who was blessed enough to share a relationship with her. Goodbye for now, Mom and Nana. We love you dearly and will forever miss you.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 11:30 am at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 115 Madison St., Sauk City, with Fr. John Blewett officiating. A visitation will be held before mass from 9:00 am until 10:45 am at HOOVERSON FUNERAL HOME, 251 Water St., Sauk City.