Obituary for Betty Lou Girard
Betty Lou Girard
Saginaw, Michigan
Beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital. Age 71 years. The daughter of the late Edward and Ellen (Luedtke) Brabant, Betty was born on October 18, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. She married Thomas J. Girard Jr., her loving husband of 50 years, on May 20, 1972. He survives her. Following her earning of a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in 1973, Betty had a combined 29 years of service in Public Health with Saginaw and Genesee Counties. Betty played the piano and organ, and for 50+ years served in Liturgical Ministries for Taymouth Presbyterian Church, Assumption B.V.M, St. Anthony Catholic Church and most recently, St. Francis and Clare Catholic Church. She enjoyed traveling, especially wintering in Florida most recently. Betty and Tom enjoyed monthly ca$ino trips to play blackjack and bingo. Although not a huge sports enthusiast, she was definitely an avid Detroit Tigers fan. Her greatest joy in life was indeed her family. She rarely missed her grandchildren’s baseball, volleyball and softball games or dance recitals. Betty’s smile, laughter and infectious personality will be deeply missed, but always remembered.
Surviving besides her husband Tom are two sons, Scott (Crystal) Girard, Ft. Myers, Florida; Mark (Kelly) Girard, Birch Run; four grandchildren, Mackenzie, Kaitlin, Kayla and Mark Jr; her siblings, Sharon (Richard) Leach, Larry (Bette) Brabant; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathleen (Cliff) Chapman; several nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by an infant brother, Leonard Brabant; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Thomas J. and Bernice Girard, Sr.
Funeral Liturgy will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at St. Francis and Clare Catholic Church, 12157 Church Street, Birch Run, Michigan. Rev. Fr. Thomas McNamara will officiate. Entombment will take place in St. Andrew Mausoleum. Friends may visit at The Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd., (between Shattuck and McCarty), where the family will be present on Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. Francis and Clare Church Music Ministry or Compassus Hospice.
“We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.” J. Reuben Clark
Saginaw, Michigan
Beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital. Age 71 years. The daughter of the late Edward and Ellen (Luedtke) Brabant, Betty was born on October 18, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. She married Thomas J. Girard Jr., her loving husband of 50 years, on May 20, 1972. He survives her. Following her earning of a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in 1973, Betty had a combined 29 years of service in Public Health with Saginaw and Genesee Counties. Betty played the piano and organ, and for 50+ years served in Liturgical Ministries for Taymouth Presbyterian Church, Assumption B.V.M, St. Anthony Catholic Church and most recently, St. Francis and Clare Catholic Church. She enjoyed traveling, especially wintering in Florida most recently. Betty and Tom enjoyed monthly ca$ino trips to play blackjack and bingo. Although not a huge sports enthusiast, she was definitely an avid Detroit Tigers fan. Her greatest joy in life was indeed her family. She rarely missed her grandchildren’s baseball, volleyball and softball games or dance recitals. Betty’s smile, laughter and infectious personality will be deeply missed, but always remembered.
Surviving besides her husband Tom are two sons, Scott (Crystal) Girard, Ft. Myers, Florida; Mark (Kelly) Girard, Birch Run; four grandchildren, Mackenzie, Kaitlin, Kayla and Mark Jr; her siblings, Sharon (Richard) Leach, Larry (Bette) Brabant; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathleen (Cliff) Chapman; several nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by an infant brother, Leonard Brabant; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Thomas J. and Bernice Girard, Sr.
Funeral Liturgy will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at St. Francis and Clare Catholic Church, 12157 Church Street, Birch Run, Michigan. Rev. Fr. Thomas McNamara will officiate. Entombment will take place in St. Andrew Mausoleum. Friends may visit at The Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd., (between Shattuck and McCarty), where the family will be present on Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. Francis and Clare Church Music Ministry or Compassus Hospice.
“We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.” J. Reuben Clark