Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Elizabeth A. Burnett
March 11, 1930 - Dec. 17, 2001

 

South Bend Tribune 12/20/2001

Elizabeth "Betty" A. (Smith) Burnett, 71, of Spearmint Court, South Bend, Ind., died peacefully after a long illness on Monday, Dec. 17, in her home. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Raymond Jr.; children, Kathryn Burnett of Mishawaka, Ind., Kevin (Cathleen) Burnett of South Bend, Kimberly Burnett (Don Lynch) of Vienna, Va., and Kelly (Gary) Soots of Brownsburg, Ind.; sisters, Margaret Mason of Westland, Mich., and Sarah "Sally" Smith of Fort Collins, Colo.; her beloved grandchildren, Jeff (Jennifer) Gray, Amanda, Austin and Ashley Burnett, Connor, Margaret and Madeline Lynch, and Paul, Steven, Tiffany and Kaela Soots; and by one great-grandchild, Alexis Gray.

 

Betty was born to Scottish immigrants William A. and Margaret (McGlone) Smith in Detroit, Mich., March 11, 1930. She grew up there, graduating from St. Gregory's High School, where she recently attended her 50th reunion. She met Ray Burnett while he was stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base.

 

They were married July 30, 1949, and danced together at their 50th wedding anniversary party surrounded by family and friends. After marriage, she and her husband moved to South Bend where they have lived ever since. She was never happier than when she was a full-time homemaker and could "mother" round the clock. She turned every holiday into magic with her gifts for festivity and design, making memories for her family and their friends that they cherish to this day.

 

Nothing was more important to Betty than the people in her life. She loved life so much that each day was a celebration for her, one that she wanted to share with those who were lucky enough to know her. Some of her happiest and most fulfilling times were when she was involved in her volunteer work: a Camp Fire Girl leader for more than a decade, she was awarded the St. Ann Award for her lifetime achievement. She was president of both the PTA at St. Matthew's School and the Mothers' Club at Marian High School. She chaired the St. Matthew's New Year's Eve Ball for many years, her vision transforming a gym into an elegant ballroom. Always ready to assist in any of her children's activities, she led youth groups, decorated for school dances, chaperoned camping trips (a special love of hers), wrote and directed school plays (another big love), and transported hundreds of kids to and from school, the skating rink, activities, dances and games. She was a second Mom to many of her children's friends.

 

She retired from Margaret Ward Department Store where she thrived supervising and training her employees in top quality customer service. A lover of travel, she made many trips while employed, but retirement gave her the opportunity to indulge her passion for travel extensively; her journeys included the Holy Land, Australia, Tahiti, Alaska, and her special love, Hawaii.

 

A funeral Mass will be said for Elizabeth at 10 a.m. today, Dec. 20, in St. Matthew's Cathedral. Donations in her name may be made to the YMCA of Michiana. Betty was a devoted mother, a wonderful spouse, and she touched the lives of so many with her honest, positive approach to life. The world became a better place because of her. The Palmer Funeral Home, South Bend, is handling arrangements.