Betty Ann (Huyear) Brese passed away Feb 12, 2024, during the Holy Hour surrounded by her husband Gene, and daughters Lisa, Dawn, and Deborah. She fought a two-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Betty was married to Gene for 57 years. Born and raised as a small-town girl in Carlinville, Illinois, she met a big-city guy from Buffalo, New York. Gene went to the University of Illinois and just happened to be a roommate of Betty’s cousin, which is how they met. Following graduation, Gene accepted a job as an architect in Indianapolis. Betty followed and they were soon married and began their life in Indianapolis. They lived on the west side of Indianapolis in the Twin Oaks and Eagle Creek Woods neighborhoods where they made many lifelong friends. Friendships remain close and many visited her in her last days.

In addition to her family, her faith was her greatest gift and strength. She was a devout Catholic, belonging to St. Gabriel and St. Malachy churches. She prayed endlessly for family and friends and shared her faith whenever she had the opportunity. She was passionate about helping those who were less fortunate and volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul for 41 years. She was a model of living a charitable life. She also had a special fondness for the rosary and adoration.

In her younger days, Betty had a real love for tennis and played weekly with her friends at the Twin Oaks courts. She taught her daughters how to play and they too developed a fondness for tennis and racquet sports. Several of her grandsons also inherited an interest in the sport and have played in the Zionsville school system. She enjoyed watching professional tennis right up through the recent Australian Open in January.

After her daughters were married and she and Gene were empty nesters, they explored the country in their travel trailer. They traveled together for 15 years and went to 49 states and five provinces in Canada. Betty was always up for any adventure!

Once grandchildren began to enter their lives, Betty and Gene turned their focus to activities, sports, and school events. With 11 grandchildren, there were plenty of appearances to make and many miles to travel. Band and orchestra concerts in middle school auditoriums, baseball and softball games in the hot summer sun, dance competitions, lacrosse games in less-than-desirable weather, wrestling matches in sweaty gymnasiums, robotics competitions featuring teams from around the world, and finally courtside seats at indoor and outdoor tennis matches year-round. One season in particular, they were proud to have attended 120 games/events (yes, Gene counted them on his calendar). Betty even went to eight events in a single weekend. She was their biggest cheerleader.

Though she was a “girl mom,” she was blessed with three sons-in-law and eight grandsons. She treated her three sons-in-law as if they were her own children. She could carry a conversation with them about her beloved Indianapolis Colts, ask them to retell the story of the birdie they had on the 9th hole, was a role model for how to be a good spouse and parent, and represented life as a truly happy person, always loving, always laughing, always smiling, always joyful.  Betty was also blessed with three granddaughters and always loved her girl time. The care and love she had for Shea, her granddaughter with special needs, was deep. She routinely reminded the family that Shea was a special gift from God to our family. She was affectionately known as “Gram” or “Gram Cracker” to all her grandchildren. Family, traditions, and creating memories were most important to her. Betty would drop anything to spend time with her family.

Some of Betty’s most cherished moments were spent in Illinois each month with her mother Ione, her brother Joe and her sister Brenda.  Every night up to Betty’s passing, she would call her mom and they would pray a Hail Mary together before they both went to sleep. Betty still has many relatives in Illinois who will dearly miss her.

Betty was soft and sweet but with a confident and faithful soul as she let the Lord and love guide her through life. She was a wonderful role model to her daughters. While it might not have been apparent to most, she was extraordinarily strong and battled this cancer hard. She rallied for this one last Christmas and claimed it was the best Christmas she ever had. Even in her last days, when asked how she felt, she answered with a smile, “my heart is full.”

The family would like to thank Dr. Mike Callahan, Amy Benefiel RN, Dr. Luke Nelligan, Dr. Fahmy, Compassus Hospice staff and St. Vincent staff who cared for Betty. Not only was Dr. Mike her oncologist, but also a very special faith-filled friend to Lisa, Dawn, and Debbie, along with his wife, Mollie.  Betty especially loved it when Dr. Mike ended each of their visits in prayer.

Betty was unconditional with her love, support, and compassion. The family will continue to live and love in her spirit – Go love like Gram Cracker!

Betty is survived by her husband Gene Brese.

Three Daughters:

Lisa & Kevin Harreld – Genevieve, Jackson, Hudson & Quentin

Dawn & Brad Holifield – Mira, Dominic, Emerson & Monroe

Deb & Marcus Weidner – Von, Shea & Cruz

Her Mother, Ione Lynn and siblings, Joe Huyear and Brenda (Tom) Muench

Preceding her in death:  Father, Clarence Huyear, Bonus Father, Chalk Lynn.  Brother Gerry Huyear.

Funeral arrangements

St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church

1870 W Oak St, Zionsville, IN 46077

Visitation:

Thursday February 29, 2024

5-7pm

Rosary:

Friday March 1, 2024

10 am

Funeral Service:

Friday March 1, 2024

11am

Graveside Burial Service in Carlinville, Illinois

On Saturday March 23, 2024  11am

At New Calvary Cemetery

18552 State Rte 4, Carlinville, IL 62626

Donations can be made in Betty’s name to her home parish, St. Malachy Catholic Church for the St. Vincent De Paul fund.

Svdpindy.org

Arrangements have been entrusted to The Cremation Society of Indiana, 4115 Shelby Street. Leave A Message or  Share A Memory.

To plant a tree in memory of Betty Brese, please visit our Tribute Store.