Betty E. Braatz

Betty E. Braatz passed away on April 25, 2025. She was born to Erwin H. and Frieda M. (Schaible) Braatz on March 1, 1934. She was preceded in death by her sister, Beverly J. Jorfi, and her parents.

Betty had a strong faith in God and is now in the arms of Jesus. Betty graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and was part of the Marching Band community. She attended Alma College right after high school and earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Eastern Michigan University while working full-time. She worked at the University of Michigan Hospital for many years, where she was the supervisor of the clerks on two floors of the hospital.

She loved Jesus and she loved her whole family and friends, too. She also loved golf, football, and all kinds of sports. She could tell you the statistics of all the players. She was Godmother to Bill Hoffman (Paula), and they both mentioned that often. Betty was also a loving Godmother to her nieces Brenda Bucholz (Dale) and Becky Siller (Mike) and treated them as if they were her own children. She loved her great-nieces and nephews, Melissa Teeple (Sheldon), Brittany Call-Boyce, and Ashley Sutton (Ron). She loved to hear the stories about her nine great-great nieces and nephews, and she would always get a chuckle over the funny parts.

Betty stayed active her whole life. There was rarely a day when she did not get out and do something. All of the restaurants and places she frequently visited knew her by name. She looked forward to getting together with her cousins and catching up while talking about the good times of the past.

Betty is survived by her brother-in-law, Joseph J. Jorfi, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She will truly be missed.

Betty wanted people to remember these words when she passed away: “THE WORD OF GOD SHALL REMAIN FOREVER.”

Also, this: “IN HEAVEN, I WILL THINK OF JEANS, GOLF, COFFEE, DONUTS, AND TENNIS SHOES.”- Betty Braatz

Services will be held on May 5, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. Visitation is from 10am-11am. The funeral service will start at 11am. Interment at Bethlehem Cemetery to follow.

Memorials can be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at stjude.org.