Date of Birth:
Wednesday, March 6, 1918
Date of Death:
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Age:
91 years old

Elizabeth L. Speltz O’Grady

Elizabeth Louise Speltz O’Grady of Charter House, Rochester, Minnesota born March 6, 1918 died October 18, 2009.  Survived by husband John Patrick of Rochester, son Kevin Patrick (Beth Samuelson) and grandsons John Patrick and Liam Joseph O’Grady of Stillwater, MN., brother Dr. Jerome Speltz (Laurine), of Rochester and many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews in Minnesota and Chicago.

Mrs O’Grady was preceded in death by parents Jerome and Aline Guidinger Speltz, brothers Sylvester (Annabelle) and Thomas (Bernita) all of Rollingstone, MN and a sister, Josephine Rathke of Storm Lake, Iowa.

Betty and John were married at Holy Trinity Church in Rollingstone, May 17, 1947.  She was a 1939 graduate of St. Teresa College, Winona, a secondary school teacher for five years in Minnesota then a supervisor in the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in Chicago.  Later she managed the Medical Placement Registry in Minneapolis until 1947.  She and John lived in various locations while he served in the U.S. Navy including Long Beach and San Francisco, CA, Key West, FL, Norfolk, VA Charleston, SC, Boston, MA, Newport, RI., and New London CT.

Her many interests included: volunteer work as V.P. of Community Action Council of Burnsville, MN; directing plays in Community Theatre of Burnsville; conducting “Quit Smoking” programs for American Cancer Society; teaching Laubach Reading Programs for adults; teaching adult education classes and teaching Catholic religious education classes at Naval Bases in Key West, FL and Newport, RI.  In May 2009 Betty was recognized as an Honorary Life Member of the American Association of University Women for her strong commitment in education and equity for women and girls.

A funeral Mass service will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Rochester on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 10:00AM with the Rev. Msgr. Gerald A. Mahon officiating.  Friends may call a half hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Memorials may be directed to the Mayo Foundation for Mental Health or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

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