Betty Louise (Rice) Brassell

October 9, 1946 - July 25, 2024

Betty Louise (Rice) Brassell, October 9, 1946 - July 25, 2024, was born in Corning, Arkansas to the late Roy and Louise (Bokhart) Rice Sr. and was raised in South Bend, IN with her older brother Roy Jr. and younger sister, Gail. She was a 1964 graduate of South Bend Riley High School. She earned her nursing diploma from Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing in 1967. She later returned to IUSB to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

She met her husband John J. Brassell during the time he was an orderly in the emergency department (prior to becoming a South Bend police officer), and married soon after on November 9, 1968 at Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church in South Bend. They had been married for 54 years when John passed on November 2, 2023.

Betty was the proud mother of sons Michael and Daniel. She provided a loving and caring home while instilling a strong faith in God and commitment to family in them.

Betty’s passion was caring for women during childbirth. Her career in labor and delivery spanned for more than 25 years at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. During this time, she was witness to thousands of new lives being brought into this world. She retired from Memorial Hospital as the Unit Director of the Childbirth Unit.

In the 1990’s, she and John moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where they enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the ocean breeze and the sand between their toes. This was also a place they wouldn’t have to shovel snow! Known by her coworkers as Birth Center Betty, she continued her career as a labor and delivery nurse at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.

When Betty and John were ready to semi-retire, they made their way to Green Valley, AZ - another place where shoveling snow was unheard of. Betty worked part time at LaPosada Retirement Community, tooling around in a golf cart while caring for those in the assisted living community.

Betty was a parishioner at Our Lady of the Valley Parish where she regularly attended Saturday evening mass. Her hobbies included sewing, needlepoint, crocheting, and going to the beach. She had an amazing collection of shoes and purses and would find any excuse to add to it. She was an avid reader, she enjoyed going to the movies and out for meals with her husband and friends, she had quite the sweet tooth (especially for cheesecake!), and she enjoyed anything starring Tom Selleck or Mark Harmon.

Betty was a devoted wife, mother, “Grandma Hawaii/Arizona,” sister, aunt and friend who made a positive impact on this world.

Left to cherish her memory are sons Michael (Kimberly) Brassell of New Carlisle, IN and Daniel (Tiffany) Brassell of South Bend, IN; Grandsons Zachary (Anna) Brassell of New Carlisle, IN and Nicholas (Haley) Brassell of Goshen, IN; Granddaughter Alexandria Brassell of South Bend IN; Great-grandchildren Elena and Brooks Brassell of Goshen IN; Siblings Roy (Mary) Rice Jr. of Mesa, AZ and Gail (Bill) Varie of Dewey AZ; and brother-in-law Timothy (Melanie) Brassell of Osceola, IN. She will also be missed by many other family, friends and former co-workers around the country.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Green Valley, AZ on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery, Sahuarita, AZ. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that a contribution be made in Betty’s honor to the charity of the donor’s choice

08/08/2024 EJS