Elizabeth “Betty Ann” True, 92, residing at Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. She was born on January 29, 1926 in Tulsa, OK, to Robert Merle and Charlotte (Conley) McMahan, both of whom preceded her in death. Betty Ann graduated from the University of Oklahoma where she was a member and president of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
On June 3, 1947 in Tulsa, Betty Ann married Guy “Herb” Herbert True, Jr., who preceded her in death on October 30, 2009. Betty Ann is survived by her three daughters, Mary (David McAneny) True of Oakland, CA; Nancy (Bill) Brady of Bloomington, IL; Lisa (Roland Hwang) True of Albany, CA; four sons, Robert (Pam) True of Chicago, IL; Steve (Nancy Garbier) True of Wauwatosa, WI; Greg (Anne Kellenberg) True of South Bend; Jeff (Brenda White) True of Bowling Green, KY; 23 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Betty Ann was preceded in death by her son, Michael True and his wife Susan True, her grandson, Zachary (Neiman), and her sister Mary McMahan Athens and brothers Jack McMahan and Bob McMahan.
Betty Ann is remembered by her children as having a hot breakfast including homemade donuts served with their favorite cocoa—all ready before they set off for school. She loved the first flowers of spring, her bridge group of over 40 years, and the concerts of the South Bend Symphony. She was a longtime parishioner and volunteer at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
She especially loved travel, visiting China, Egypt, Russia and Kenya, often with dear friends, Joel and LuAnn Bullard and Jerry and JoAnn McCarthy. At 50, she learned to play tennis and golf (instructed by her sons) and from then on, gave Herb a run for his money on the court. She was a full partner and de facto CFO of Team International, the company founded by her husband which managed his speaking engagements.
Beginning in 1984, Grandma and Grandpa True hosted a family reunion (True Hysteria) each Memorial Day weekend at their home on Colfax Street. Her grandchildren recall memories of her homecooked ribs and lasagna as well as seeing her quietly enjoying the evening in her gazebo as they played wiffleball, soccer, and basketball in the backyard. She is remembered by Herb’s brother, Michael, as “a remarkable person–beautiful, talented, and wonderfully generous to my family and me”.
The family is especially grateful to the Holy Cross Village community, especially the nurses at Schubert Villa. And their deepest appreciation is felt for Ms. Bimpe Tshimanga, their mother’s dear nurse and companion. Memorial Mass for Betty Ann will be celebrated at 12:00pm on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 226 N. Hill Street, South Bend, IN.
Graveside services and inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger, IN. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00am-12:00pm at the church prior to services on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Betty Ann may be donated to Corvilla, Inc. (a program in South Bend dedicated to adults with disabilities), 3620 Deahl Court, South Bend IN 46628.
Online condolences may be left for the True family at www. palmerfuneralhomes.com. Donations may be made to: Corvilla, Inc. 3620 Deahl Court, South Bend IN 46628 Tel: 1-574-289-9779 Email: info@corvilla.org Web: www.
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