Betty Ladiski

There is something about laughter that warms even the coldest of days and laughter was one of Betty Ladiski’s gifts to the world around her. She worked hard throughout her life yet she could also find beauty in the simplest of things too. Betty was blessed to share more than 60 years with the love of her life and the family that sprang forth from their marriage became her greatest pride and joy. She considered it a privilege to care for her family throughout the years and she treated each and every member of her family as though they were a priceless treasure.

The year 1926 was an exciting one as it was the year in which the first woman, an American, swam the English Channel, Henry Ford first introduced the concept of an eight-hour workday and a five-day work week, and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was organized as the first nationwide radio broadcasting network. This was also a year of great celebration in the home of John and Elsie (Twitchell) Gardner as they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Betty, on February 19th. Betty was born in Dimondale, Michigan as one of ten children in her family. She was quiet as a child yet quick-witted as well as she was always ready with a comeback appropriate in any situation.

As the prosperity of the twenties in America gave way to the hardship of the thirties, families did what they could to survive. Of course Americans were used to tough times, but the Great Depression was a different kind of tough time and the Gardner family certainly felt the strain. Although Betty’s family struggled, there was always enough to get by. The youth of this generation didn’t really know life any other way so many of them didn’t realize the extent of the situation they were faced with. They often found fun in simple and inexpensive ways. Betty enjoyed roller skating and dancing, and she was an avid reader as well. She attended local schools including Rodney B. Wilson High School and graduated in 1943.

Life turned a different corner for Betty when her sister Gerry began dating a young man named Pete Ladiski. Ironically this would be the man with whom Betty would share an enduring love after the relationship between Pete and her sister didn’t work out so well. Eventually Pete asked Betty out for a date and their relationship later blossomed into true love. They were married on June 23, 1945 while Pete was in boot camp in Alabama. Shortly after they exchanged their vows Betty moved back to St. Johns while Pete finished his time of service in the Army. Before his time was completed Betty sent him a telegram informing him of the birth of their first child, Carol, in 1946. Not wanting to completely miss this important time in his family’s history, Pete hopped a train without permission from the Army and had a short visit with his young family. Although the Army was not too pleased with his actions, he managed to escape without any major consequences.

Once Pete was discharged he returned home to join Betty and Carol. They were soon blessed with the birth of their son, Richard, in 1947. Although Betty worked outside the home quite a bit while her children were younger, she always made sure that her family was her main focus. She worked for over 25 years at the Ovid Service Agency, a local insurance company, until she retired in 1984.

Although her family and her work kept her quite busy, Betty enjoyed many other things as well. She liked playing cards and making pizza with friends. They also had a cottage at Higgins Lake where Betty and Pete would go every weekend. The love she had for reading as a young girl followed her throughout her entire life and as an adult her choice reading material was romance novels. Nothing could have thrilled Betty more than becoming a grandmother and spending time with their grandchildren immediately became their favorite hobby.

In many ways Betty was such a unique woman and so easy to love. She was very organized, even as a young girl, and she also worked hard throughout her life. Betty loved to laugh and enjoy life too. She and Pete modeled a wonderful marriage for all to see as they shared a deep and abiding love with one another that was impossible to miss. They were inseparable and depended on each other for everything whether great or small.

The last years of Betty’s life were difficult ones for her - and her family too. She fell deeper and deeper into the clutches of Alzheimer’s disease as the years passed by. By the time her beloved Pete died suddenly from a heart attack in 2007, she was already very ill. It would be complications from this disease which finally claimed her life when she drew her last breath surrounded by her loving family.

Betty Ladiski was a remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life loving those she treasured. She was completely devoted to her family throughout her life and her marriage was a complete reflection of what a marriage is truly designed to be. Betty leaves behind lessons in hard work, perseverance through trials, and grace that will live on in the hearts and lives of those she leaves behind. She will be dearly missed.

Betty Ladiski of Ovid died on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Betty’s family includes her daughter, Carol (George) Bishop of DeWitt, her son, Richard (Diane) Ladiski of Oklahoma; grandchildren, Kimberly Schneider, William (Miranda) Hitchens, Chad (Sherri) Hitchens, Matthew Hitchens, Shari (Dusty) Hilterbran, Brett (Dawn) Ladiski, Shannon Wallace, Michele (Aaron) Applebee and Zoi Ladiski; great grandchildren, Jacob, Savannah, Jordan, Nicklas, Brayden, Kyle, Cassie,Tabitha, Trystan, Allyx, Sophia, Kaleb, and Gracie; her three sisters, Geraldine Farrier of Maple Rapids, Luella (Arthur) Harrington of Florida, and Gladys Church of Owosso. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Peter Ladiski; her parents; five sisters, Alice Purvis, Esther Twitchell, Annabell Ness, Belva Fidler, Shirley Taylor and one brother, William Gardner. A Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 19, 2009, at Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Raymond Urbanek officiating, burial at Maple Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, 232 E. Oak St., Ovid, from 6 – 8 p.m., Friday with a Rosary prayed at 7 p.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association and Sparrow Hospice.