ELIZABETH CATHERINE MULCAHY ROORDA
1920-2017
Elizabeth Catherine Mulcahy Roorda (Betty), age 97, passed away on Friday, September 22, 2017, in the comfort of her home in Houston, Texas.
Betty is survived by her children: Beth Barker (Bill), John Roorda III, and Ann Hollis as well as her six loving grandchildren: Jack, Brian, Nic, Mike, Alex and Sarah. She is also survived by her 98 year old sister Edith (Babs) Cope of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and many nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her husband and best friend of 62 years, John F. Roorda Jr., her parents Charles and Edith Mulcahy, her brothers Fredrick and Edward, and son-in-law Steve Hollis.
During Mom’s illness, God sent us three angels to care for her in her home: Mabel and Priscilla Omagorosire, and Ruthie Rhodes Moye. We will forever be grateful to these wonderful ladies for all of the love and care they showed towards Mom over the years.
Betty was born on August 11, 1920 in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. In 1929, Betty and her family moved from Canada to Weslaco, Texas to try their hand at farming. Then in 1935, to be closer to family, they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Betty attended Messmer High School. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Nutrition from Mount Mary College and worked as a dietitian at Purdue University where she met her future husband, John Roorda. They were married on July 3, 1949. John worked for Shell Oil Company and they were relocated 10 times during the next 21 years of marriage. They arrived in Houston for the second time in July of 1971 where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
They were members of St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church for 46 years. Betty volunteered her time with the St. Vincent DePaul Society and The Little Flower Thrift Shop helping people in need. Betty was also an artist and a member of the Contemporary Handweavers of Houston, participating in workshops as often as possible. She had a green thumb and loved tending to her beautiful gardens. She also loved to travel and was always ready for an adventure.
We will miss her warm smiles and gentle hugs, her delicious cooking and especially watching TV westerns with her. Happy trails to you until we meet again… We love you Mom!
A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., at the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 29, 2017 at St Cecilia Catholic Church at 1:00 p.m. Interment immediately following Funeral Mass at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.