Mary Genevieve (McGill) Betterman

Mary Genevieve (McGill) Betterman
March 25, 1926 – May 9, 2018

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Patrick McGill; brothers Joseph, Francis, Stephen and Michael. Survived by children: W.  Patrick (Diane), Anne Haas (John), Mary Jane Betterman (Michael), Gerard (Sharon), James, (Kathleen), Loretta Kelly (James), John (Bhagyashree), Michaela D’Arrigo (Peter); sister Patricia McGill Smith; sister in law Sharon McGill, cousin John McGill; 30 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 15th, from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, May 16th at 11:30 at Holy Name Catholic Church, 2901 Fontenelle Blvd. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Midwest Jesuits, 1010 N. Hooker Street, Chicago, Illinois 60642 or Holy Name Church, 2901 Fontenelle Boulevard, Omaha, Nebraska 68104.

Mary Genevieve (McGill) Betterman, was born on March 25, 1926. With an Irish twinkle in her eye, she epitomized the elation, excitement, and elan of the Roaring Twenties. The eldest child of Patrick and Elizabeth (Miller) McGill, Mary Gen was dearly loved and deeply revered by her younger siblings, Joseph, Francis, Stephen, Patricia (Smith), and Michael. She often reminisced about her trip to Australia at age 4 when her Father, a world-class professional wrestler, competed with the world’s best. Mary Gen grew up during the Great Depression, a time of great hardship.  She emerged from those hard times with compassion for those in need, a staunch work ethic, and respect for all whom she came to know. She brought great joy and delight to all who knew her.

Mary Gen was an exceptionally brilliant woman and an avid reader. She graduated 6 months early from Holy Name High School to support the war effort by providing much needed secretarial services to the Union Pacific Railroad. She married William Francis Betterman on January 8, 1949. They reared a family of 8 children, W. Patrick (Diane), Anne Haas (John), Mary Jane (Michael Bertsch), Gerard (Sharon), James (Kathleen), Loretta Kelly (James), John (Bhagyashree RaoRane), and Michaela D’Arrigo (Peter). Mary Gen was a devoted mother. She valued education, and greatly sacrificed financially to educate her children in private parochial and Jesuit institutions. She was a woman of great faith, which she passed on to her children. For many years, Mary Gen was a devoted parishioner of Holy Name Catholic Church.

After Mary Gen raised and educated her children, she worked as a secretary for Creighton University and Northern Natural Gas in Omaha, NE. She retired in the early 1990s. Mary Gen enjoyed many of her golden years in Chicago, IL. She has 30 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her great joy. During these years, Mary Gen’s passion for knitting and needlepoint produced gorgeous afghans, sweaters, elaborate needlepoint Christmas stockings, and wall hangings for her loved ones. Her final years were spent in Nebraska City, Nebraska.