Elizabeth "Betty Ann" (Patrick) Leopold

Elizabeth Patrick Leopold (Betty Ann) died on Sunday, September 24, 2023.  Born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 6, 1937, to Nicholas Patrick and Elizabeth Dugas, Betty spent her early years enjoying life on a small farm in Solon, Ohio.  Retiring from the Rochester Community Schools in Rochester Michigan and working for the Detroit Public Schools in Michigan, Betty was instrumental in planning and executing a number of career exploration programs for students, and she was commended by Ferris State College for implementing an “Educators in Industry Program” for teachers.  She also developed and coordinated the first Career Resource Center at Adams High School in Rochester.

After retiring, she and her husband began a second career doing volunteer work.  She served as Co-Chair of the Ulster Project in Chattanooga, Tennessee which unites Catholic and Protestant youths from Northern Ireland.  She also served as project volunteer with her husband at Erlanger Hospital Medical Center – chairing many fundraisers and participating in the 100-year celebration of the Erlanger Medical Center.

When she and her husband moved to Florida in 1994, they continued their service by volunteering with the American Red Cross, serving as National Disaster volunteers. As a Family Service Representative, she served as a supervisor in for reliefs efforts during the floods of West Virginia, tornadoes, wildfires, and the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York City.  She was an active member of Resurrection Catholic Church in Destin, Florida where she served on the Liturgy Committee, was a Eucharist Minister, and trained Eucharist Ministers.  As a member of the Environment and Art Committee, she was an active member of the Design Committee for the new church which opened in 2001.  Betty was chair of the Dedication Committee.  When Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast opened, she served as a Pastoral Care volunteer.  Betty began worshipping at St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church in 2005 where she was an active member and also served as a Eucharist Minister.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 41 years, Gordon, and her parents, Nicholas and Elizabeth.

Betty is survived by her two sisters, Dolores Milota (Bernard) and Frances Sabine (Theodore), her five children: Christine Potvin (Harry) of Caledonia, MI, Cathlin Hummel (Ronald) of Salida, CO, Carin Aspen (David) of Buena Vista CO, Gregory Medla (Deobrah) of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Cindi Spring (Rick) Lancaster OH, and five step-children: Michael Leopold (Marcia) of Northville, MI, Jill Martinez (Robert) of Irving TX, Jolayne Thompson (Brian) of Royal Oak, MI, Julie Leopold Fernandez (Paul) of Metamora, MI, and Ellen Leopold-Beckham (Howard).  She also leaves behind 19 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Memorials in Betty’s memory may be made to:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        - -     - Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221,                                                                                                                                                                                       - Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, 11 First St SE, Ft Walton Beach, FL 32548, or                                                                                                                                                                                  - St Margaret of Scotland, US Hwy 331 N, DeFuniak Springs, FL, 32433

Mass of the Resurrection will be held on October 14 at 10 AM at St. Margaret of Scotland, DeFuniak Springs.