Betty L. (Reutebuch) DeSabatine
Betty Louise (Reutebuch) DeSabatine, 90, of Winamac, went to be with the loves of her life, the Lord and her husband “Pauly,” on Sept. 22, in Winamac.
Betty was born at home in Pulaski to the late John and Cora (Link) Reutebuch on Oct. 20, 1932. She was the fifth child in a family of thirteen. Betty graduated from Pulaski High School. On Oct. 20, 1951, she married Paul “Rusty” DeSabatine at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pulaski. Rusty passed away on April 18, 2017.
Betty worked from the early age of 10 babysitting and cleaning for a couple of her schoolteachers. She also did ironing for an aunt. Betty worked in a sewing factory after graduating from high school. She was the bookkeeper for 65 years for Rusty’s excavating business “DeSabatine Brothers Excavating.” While helping with the family business she had nine children in ten years and did a wonderful job raising them.
Betty was very active at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac where she was a CCD teacher for many years. She was also a member of the Christian Mothers and Ladies of Charity. Betty was proud to be a part of the first group of parishioners allowed to distribute the Eucharist at St. Peter’s.
Aside from raising her family, Betty loved to work in her garden, read, cook for her family, play Euchre on Friday nights and watch her family swim in her pool. A day did not go by without her watching her favorites on TV, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
She is survived by daughters: Barbara [Steve] Rausch, Winamac, Donna “Guba” [Alan] Nicholson, Winamac, Joan [Tim] Murray, Winamac and Rhonda “Weez” [Dave] Parcel, Winamac; sons: Robert [Sandy] DeSabatine, Winamac, Ronald “Rudy” [Cindy] DeSabatine, Winamac, David “Butch” [Monica] DeSabatine, Winamac, John “Chopper” [Robin] DeSabatine, LaPorte and Thomas DeSabatine, Culver; 45 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; sisters: Marlene [Ron] Roth, Monticello, Kay Ann [Tom] Derheimer, Columbia City, Sharon [Jerry] Cloud, Indianapolis and Marcia Lehman, Indianapolis; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by parents: John and Cora (Link) Reutebuch; husband Paul “Rusty” DeSabatine; daughter-in-law Ida DeSabatine; brothers: Bill [Babe] Reutebuch, Junior [Evelyn] Reutebuch, Richard Reutebuch, John [Janet] Reutebuch and Gerald “Popcorn” [Georgette] Reutebuch; sisters: Marjorie “Chiz” [Chester] Hanus and Dorothy [Melvin] Linback; infant brother Ronald Reutebuch; in-laws: Alfonso and Anna (DePirro) DeSabatine; and brother-in-law Rich Lehman.
Visitation will be from 2:30 – 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church 402 N. Market St. Winamac, IN 46996 (enter through north door off of parking lot).
A scriptural wake service will be held at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.
The Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 30, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church and will be followed by the Prayers at the Closing of the Casket.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 30, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church with Rev. Andrew DeKeyser officiating.
Burial will take place at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Winamac.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dup15q Alliance Mission which helps fund Autism research. Betty held this charity close to her heart to help her great-grandson Beau. Donation envelopes will be available through the funeral home.
Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.
(Pulaski County Journal — Sept. 27, 2023)