Submitted by: Dan Rich
Elizabeth A. Burnett
March 11, 1930 - Dec. 17, 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.