Beatrice T. Sommers

We send our condolences to the Sommers family in your time of sorrow. Our family lived across the street from you on Spring St. We saw Betty''s obituary in the madison paper. God bless all of you.

It is with deep sadness and great sympathy that I write to the family of Betty Sommers. Just a few months ago, I asked my sister Julie if she knew of Betty and how was her health. I had not gotten a Christmas card from Betty this past Christmas. A rare event for me. Most of my family is now deceased. My sister Julie has moved back to Beaver Dam with her family. She knew of Betty, but was not "in the loop" to inquire about her health. I regret now that I just did not call her and find out for myself. Betty was very influential in my life. Like many of us, I saw her untiring devotion to her family and to the Church. Aside from what we all witnessed, Betty was also a woman of deep faith. I chose to write you this note today because it is the memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (October 1st.) St. Therese is known for her simple faith. Yet, in what ever St. Therese did - she did it for Christ. I think that Betty''s faith was very similar. It was a simple deep faith. Whatever Betty did, she did it for Christ. I also think that she is a saint. Not because of all her involvements with the church, but because of what was behind those actions - her deep and abiding faith. Each Feast of all Saints, I choose someone that I am quite sure is in heaven and offer that Mass for them. I will offer my Mass this feast day for Betty. I always wanted to be a priest - even as a little boy. Strange as it may seem, my parents, family and friends were very opposed to my becoming a priest. A common phrase I heard was, "Why would you want to throw your life away? You have so many gifts and talents, why waist them on the Church, etc." Of course I was confused. However, Betty helped me to see my vocation from my family & friend''s perspective. She told me,"They only want you to be happy. In their minds, they have a hard time seeing how you could be happy as a priest. Just place it in God''s hands and let God do the rest." After my ordination ceremony, Betty came up to me and told me that she had prayed for me every day since we had that talk to her about my vocation. I will admit it. I wanted you to become a priest. I also want you to be happy. So I will continue to pray for you each day until I die. I hope she continues to pray for me in heaven. Well, I know Betty will pray for all of us - that we might be happy. I want to close with one more thought. The last time I remember talking to Betty in a serious way was at the death of her daughter Joan. Joan died while I was in Italy at the Vatican, so I was not available to have a service for Joan in Beaver Dam. I know that Betty has had many blessings in her life. However, like all of us, Betty''s life had tragedy. I asked her how she dealt with the tragedy in her life. This is what she said to me. We never know what life will bring us. I believe that, somehow, the things that happen to us are God''s will for us. We can choose to live our lives in fear or we can choose to live our life in faith. Fear and faith are the two opposites of the same coin. Thank you Betty for your friendship, your support and your wisdom. Until we meet again - Your friend, Gary

Dear Sal and family, I am writing this from North Carolina where I have been for the past two weeks helping my daughter with her family while she recovers from surgery. I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Betty was a wonderful person and I will miss visiting with her when I came to clean. I am so sorry I was not there to attend her services. Please know that my thought and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. I will be returning to Wisconsin tomorrow and will stop over to share my condolences with you. Sincerely, judy italiano