In Memory
Elizabeth "Betty" Ann (Rupchock) Gadacz
January 25, 1937 ~ January 13, 2025 87 Years Old
Elizabeth Ann “Betty” (Rupchock) Gadacz passed away peacefully Monday, January 13, 2025 at Healthwin Specialized Care Center in South Bend after a valiant, ten-year ordeal with injuries and illness. Despite her dementia, she never failed to recognize and call by name her children and grandchildren, including her identical triplet daughters.
Betty was born in Mishawaka on January 25, 1937, the 2nd child to Stephen and Martha (DeGeyter) Rupchock. Soon after the family moved to Granger and expanded to ten children. They were poor by today’s standards, but love was never lacking in their lives. They knew they were loved by their parents, each other, and God.
After undergoing ear surgery at the age of six, Betty was so intrigued by and appreciative of the nurses’ care that she knew she wanted a career in nursing. Three of her sisters followed her lead, also devoting their lives to the nursing profession.
Betty graduated from Washington-Clay High School in South Bend in 1955; earned her R.N. from Holy Cross School of Nursing in South Bend in 1958, and served as an Emergency Room Nurse.
On July 16, 1960, she married her loving husband Bernard J. “Ben” Gadacz. Together they enjoyed 51 years of marriage until he passed. They welcomed six children; Aggie (Jeffery Atkins) Gadacz-Atkins of Mishawaka, Indiana; Barbara (Bob) Allison of Walkerton, Indiana; Carmen (Arnie) Wegener of Goshen, Indiana; Susan (Mary Triggiano) Gadacz, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Kenneth and Stephen Gadacz, both of South Bend.
Betty had many roles in her long life, including mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, Girl Scout leader, class mom, and friend. She paused her nursing career to care for her six children, who cherish her memory and the lessons of love and education she instilled in them.
After raising her children, Betty returned to her nursing career in the specialties of geriatrics and psychiatry, bringing care and comfort to those in need. She returned to school to obtain a B.S.N., graduating summa cum laude from the University of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois in 1990, which brought her loving husband Ben to tears of joy.
What Betty adored even more than motherhood was doting on her grandchildren, to whom she also imparted her love of reading, education, and having loads of fun. They are Samuel Atkins, Connor Allison, Camille Allison, Joe (Emily) Wegener, Christen Wegener, Zachary Gadacz, Samantha (Dylan) Kroger, Shelby Gadacz, and Natalie Triggiano. Betty was also blessed with six great-grandchildren: Olivia Rynearson, Barrett, Isabella, and new baby boy Wegener, and Charlotte and Kairi Mitchell.
Betty is also survived by eight siblings: Marge Roberts of Kokomo, Indiana; Cathy “Tiny” Riordan of South Bend; Marnie Smith of Des Moines, Iowa; Pete (Debbie) Rupchock of Angola, Indiana; Mary Anne Dunlop of San Diego, California; Robert (Jane) Rupchock of Niles, Michigan; Judy (Milton) Cross, also of San Diego; and Daniel (Carolyn) Rupchock of Niles; and her sister-in-law Carol Rupchock of Seattle, Washington; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Along with her parents and Ben, she was preceded in death by her brother, Stephen Rupchock, Jr; and brothers-in-law, Mark Smith, Fred Roberts, and Terry Riordan.
Betty had many hobbies in her life including: floral design, gardening, crocheting, cooking, and loved leading prayer groups. After their retirements, Betty and Ben enjoyed their trips around the U.S. and Canada including their favorites, Alaska and Hawaii. Betty was also a Neil Diamond superfan and Ben accompanied her to numerous concerts while she danced away.
The family wishes to thank Lucky, Michelle, Susan, Wendy, Jessica and all her wonderful caregivers at Healthwin, who treated Betty like their own mom and truly enhanced the last months of her life.
Visitation for Betty will be held from 3:00 pm-8:00 pm on Friday, January 24, 2025 with a Rosary to be prayed at 5:00 pm at St. Joseph Funeral Home, Mayflower Rd. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am Saturday, January 25, 2025 at St. Casimir Catholic Church, 1308 Dunham St. Graveside services will follow as Betty is laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Ben.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Adalbert Catholic School, 519 S Olive St, South Bend, IN 46619 or to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Volunteer Food Ministry.
Condolences may be made for Betty at sjfh.net
01/19/2025 djb
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