Elizabeth 'Betty' Jane (Conrardy) Soens

Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Soens, 92, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 25, 2013.  Betty was born in Racine on October 1, 1920, daughter to Eugene “Gene” Nicholas (born approx. 1889 in Chicago, IL; veteran: US Marine Corps Muster Rolls; 1016 Davis Place, Racine; died May 24, 1959/Calvary Cemetery, Racine) and Louise (nee: Weifenbach; born Jan. 24, 1889, WI; died March 1974, Racine; parents from Germany) Conrardy.

Betty married the love of her life, Richard “Dick” J. Soens, on July 3, 1948, at St. Rose Church, Racine.  They LOVED to dance to Big Band music and were married for 49 years before his death on December 12, 1997. One of Betty’s big disappointments was not celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary together.  Betty and Dick were very generous to all of their children and grandchildren.  Betty graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in 1938 and later attended vocational school for bookkeeping, a valuable skill for her later work at different banks.

She greatly enjoyed traveling, bowling, golf, bridge, band concerts at the Racine Zoo, and rides out to the lighthouse.  Betty was a member of the Council of Catholic Women and the Daughters of Isabella.  She later belonged to St. John Nepomuk and St. Joseph Catholic Churches in Racine and helped with many activities at St. John Nepomuk School.  Betty especially relished listening to stories about her great-grandchildren’s numerous antics.  Betty’s children and grandchildren visited her often while she was at St. Monica’s Senior Residence in Racine and Clare Bridge of Kenosha.

Surviving family members include Mary Louise Soens Platner and Ronold Paul Platner (Scottsdale, AZ); Michael “Mike” James Soens (Mishicot, WI), Kathryn Ann Soens Redle and Thomas “Tom” Austin Redle (Sheridan, WY), and Frances “Fran” Jane Soens Maccanelli (Racine, WI).  Betty’s grandchildren and their spouses are Zachary “Zach” Paul Platner and Carolyn Gilbertson Platner (Chilton, WI), Andrew “Andy” Richard Platner (Tempe, AZ), Peter “Pete” Nicholas Soens and Meghan Elizabeth Collins Soens (Lexington, MA), Kevin James Soens (Milwaukee, WI), Richard “Rick” Austin Redle (Sheridan, WY), Laura Elizabeth Redle (Sheridan, WY), John Peter Maccanelli and Dorothy “Dottie” Boyce Maccanelli (Kenosha, WI), Michael “Mike” Richard Maccanelli and Guadalupe “Lupe” Garcia Maccanelli (Racine, WI), and Katherine “Katie” Elizabeth Maccanelli (Racine, WI).

Her great-grandchildren, Betty’s greatest source of joy and laughter, include Katherine “Katiejo” Josephine Maccanelli (Racine, WI), Giovanni “Gio” Clemente Maccanelli (Racine, WI), Logan Paul Platner (Chilton, WI), Owen Richard Platner (Chilton, WI), Ashley Joan “AJ” Soens (Lexington, MA), and Francesca “Frankie” Margherita Maccanelli (Kenosha, WI).  Betty is also survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy “Dot” Spuhler Conrardy (Bentonville, AR), and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by her daughter, Margaret Mary (Racine, WI); her son-in-law, John Phillip Maccanelli (Racine, WI); daughter-in-law, Joan Sonnenberg Soens (Mishicot, WI); brothers, Eugene “Gene” Nicholas Conrardy, Jr. (Magalia, CA), Robert “Bob” George Conrardy (Racine, WI), and William “Bill” Carter Conrardy (Coram, Long Island, NY); and sisters Catherine Conrardy (Racine, WI), May Conrardy (Racine, WI), and Elaine Conrardy Delitz (Denver, CO).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1532 N. Wisconsin St., with interment at Mound Cemetery immediately after the Mass.  Family and friends may meet with the family prior to the Mass on Wednesday from 10 – 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church.  In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Betty Soens’ name to the Racine Zoo; St. Catherine’s High School, 1200 Park Ave., Racine, 53403; or the Racine Theatre Guild, 2519 Northwestern Ave., Racine, WI  53404.

Special thanks goes to her daughter, Fran Maccanelli, who gave her mom so much tender loving care each week during Betty’s last few years.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine  (262) 634-7888