Mrs. Betty Jane [nee Geldbach] Hagenbrok

June 7, 1929 - August 12, 2015

Hagenbrok, Betty Jane (Geldbach) Betty Hagenbrok (Nonnie or Non to those who adored her), age 86, transitioned on August 12 , 2015. Born June 7, 1929 in St. Louis, MO she resided in Riverview, FL and eventually Alpharetta, GA. Betty Jane, the daughter of John and Ruth Geldbach, was the youngest of eight children. As a child her favorite song was “Jesus Loves Me”. Betty was also a tiny daredevil who would ride her scooter at break neck speed whenever possible. As a young girl she won a Shirley Temple look-a-like contest and as a young woman was voted a Ralston Purina Checkerboard “Sweater Girl”. That career came to an abrupt end when her young husband said “no more”! A recent widow in January 2014, Betty was married 64 years to her high school sweetheart, Edward Hagenbrok, who she met at the age of 16 at a St. Patrick’s Day dance. Eddie had to be impatiently waiting for her to join him because they were never apart for long. If you were lucky enough to be loved by Nonnie you knew it because she told you all the time. Even in her final days her typical grace, ease and sweetness surrounded us as she invited her loved ones and visitors in bed with her for a snuggle to make sure they were warm, cozy and felt loved. Everybody elected to snuggle. At maybe 4’10 of petite perfection (she’d like to claim she was just shy of 5 feet) she was our soft place to fall in our darkest days and a towering pillar of strength to lean on. She was the one who could calm our inner fears, keep our secrets and help us fulfill our dreams. She reveled in all our successes and was our greatest cheerleader in whatever we attempted. As one family member said, when you spent time with her you left wanting to be a better person. A talented and gifted artist, she had a flair for fashion and decorating. You could always count on her to look beautiful in her clothing accessorized with a fabulous purse and fun jewelry. She was the original total package. Her family was everything to her. She loved her babies, grandbabies, great-great grandbabies and her Eddie. Some of her favorite things included ice cold salad plates, piping hot coffee in a pre-heated cup, going to the Jazz Festival, kicking up her heels to Willy Nelson’s Whiskey River, traveling, her home, her garden with its sunny yellow patio umbrella, butterflies, good shoes, her mink coat, sassy sun visors and sunglasses, Lancome cosmetics, a great Macy’s sale, and her cozy chaise lounge. Banana pudding and her famous cream of wheat (with ice cream no less) was a staple request of her grandchildren along with her special back scratches and amazing Rufus the Squirrel stories. And, if truth be told, we could have made a fortune if we would have sold her potato salad to the public! Betty Jane Hagenbrok, our Nonnie, is survived by her loving children, daughter Susan Lynn Rhatigan of Alpharetta, GA and son Mark Edward Hagenbrok (Maureen) of Memphis, TN as well as five of the most wonderfully close and loving grandchildren Nathan Edward Rhatigan (Erin), Jessica Michelle Hagenbrok Morris (Tommy), Ryan Michael Hagenbrok (Katie), Shane Patrick Rhatigan (Gina DiCamillo) and Caitlyn Suzanne Hagenbrok Kiedis (Zach) she delighted in her love for her five great-grand children Wyatt Patrick Rhatigan, Delle Florence Morris, Travis Sean Rhatigan, Hagen Rose Morris and our newest sweetie pie Ruthie Jane Kiedis, whose appearance is greatly anticipated. Ruthie Jane is being named after Betty, her sister Ruthie and her mother Ruth. Betty’s brother Harold Geldbach of Sun City Center, FL is her surviving sibling along with nieces, nephews and many friends who loved her to pieces. Our Sunshine Lady was and is our treasured jewel and we will hold her close to us always.