Kathleen E. Betz

Kathy Betz, born on May 29, 1941, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026, at the age of 84. A devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and teacher, she lived a life rooted in faith, family, and service to others. Kathy was the loving mother of Joseph (Kristin), proud grandmother of Ezra Joseph, Cecilia Marie, and Micah Francis, and devoted daughter of the late Marie and Joseph Betz. She was the sister of David (Elaine), Ruth (Phill), the late Margaret Mary (George), and the late Barbara Anne (Robert), and a beloved aunt to seven nieces and six nephews. She served as godmother to many.

Raised in Northeast Ohio in a German and Irish Catholic family with deep roots in Columbus and Cleveland, Kathy attended St. Thomas Aquinas grade school and graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1959. She entered the Congregation of St. Joseph, living eight years as Sister Laura Anne, before completing her master’s degree in English at John Carroll University. Her professional path led her to NASA, Republic Steel, and eventually back to the classroom, where she taught at St. Joseph Academy and for nearly thirty years at St. Ignatius High School. There she became a beloved English teacher, guiding thousands of students through literature, writing, and life with clarity, structure, and deep care. Her commitment to the Ignatian mission left a lasting mark on all who knew her, and she was honored with the Ignatian Educator of the Year Award in 2001 and the Fr. John J. Rossing, SJ Award in 2013.

Kathy found great joy in music, theatre, and song. She sang in church choirs, played piano for morning Mass, and never missed a good story or production. Her faith was active and lived out daily through the rosary, Mass, and ministries serving the marginalized, including L’Arche and Labre. In her final year and a half, she lived with her son, daughter-in-law Kristin, and her beloved grandchildren, delighting in their activities and simple family pleasures.

She is survived by her son Joseph, daughter-in-law Kristin, and grandchildren Ezra, Cecilia, and Micah, along with her siblings and extended family. Kathy’s warmth, dedication, and quiet strength will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by her family, former students, colleagues, and many friends.