Obituaries

October 20, 1932 to September 22, 2023

WINAMAC - Betty Louise [Reutebuch] DeSabatine, 90, of Winamac, passed away at 9:10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 22, in Winamac.

She was born Oct. 20, 1932, at home in Pulaski, to the late John and Cora [Link] Reutebuch. She was the fifth child in a family of 13. She graduated from Pulaski High School. On Oct. 20, 1951, she married Paul “Rusty” DeSabatine at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pulaski. He passed away April 18, 2017.

Betty DeSabatine

She is survived by:
Barbara (Steve) Rausch, Winamac, Daughter
Robert (Sandy) DeSabatine, Winamac, Son
Ronald “Rudy” (Cindy) DeSabatine, Winamac, Son
Donna “Guba” (Alan) Nicholson, Winamac, Daughter
David “Butch” (Monica) DeSabatine, Winamac, Son
Joan (Tim) Murray, Winamac, Daughter
John “Chopper” (Robin) DeSabatine, LaPorte, Son
Rhonda “Weez” (Dave) Parcel, Winamac, Daughter
Thomas DeSabatine, Culver, Son
45 Grandchildren
54 Great-Grandchildren
1 Great-Great-Granddaughter
Marlene (Ron) Roth, Monticello, Sister
Kay Ann (Tom) Derheimer, Columbia City, Sister
Sharon (Jerry) Cloud, Indianapolis, Sister
Marcia Lehman, Indianapolis, Sister
Many Nieces and Nephews

She is preceded in death by:
Ida DeSabatine, Daughter-in-law
Bill (Babe) Reutebuch, Brother
Junior (Evelyn) Reutebuch, Brother
Richard Reutebuch, Brother
John (Janet) Reutebuch, Brother
Gerald “Popcorn” (Georgette) Reutebuch, Brother
Marjorie “Chiz” (Chester) Hanus, Sister
Dorothy (Melvin) Linback, Sister
Ronald Reutebuch, Infant Brother
Alfonso and Anna [DePirro] DeSabatine, In-laws
Rich Lehman, Brother-in-law

Mrs. DeSabatine worked from the early age of 10 babysitting and cleaning for a couple of her schoolteachers. She also did ironing for an aunt. She worked in a sewing factory after graduating from high school. She was the bookkeeper for 65 years for her husband’s excavating business, DeSabatine Brothers Excavating. While helping with the family business, she had nine children in 10 years and did a wonderful job raising them. She was very active at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac where she was a CCD teacher for many years. She was also a member of the Christian Mothers and Ladies of Charity. She was proud to be a part of the first group of parishioners allowed to distribute the Eucharist at St. Peter’s. Aside from raising her family, Betty loved to work in her garden, read, cook for her family, play Euchre on Friday nights, and watch her family swim in her pool. A day did not go by without her watching her favorites on TV, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy.

Visitation will be from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Winamac (enter through north door off of parking lot). A scriptural wake service will be at 8 p.m., Friday. The rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 30, at the church, and will be followed by the prayers at the closing of the casket. A mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, at the church with Rev. Andrew DeKeyser officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Dup15q Alliance Mission which helps fund Autism research. Mrs. DeSabatine held this charity close to her heart to help her great-grandson Beau. Donation envelopes will be available through the funeral home.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.