Elizabeth GAZA

1 MAR 1922 - 1 AUG 2012

• BIRTH: 1 MAR 1922, Wilmington, Illinois
• BURIAL: Highland Cemetery
• DEATH: 1 AUG 2012, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 26 JAN 1947, Battle Creek, Mi

1.  Diana STRATIGOS
2.  Ann STRATIGOS
3.  Mary E STRATIGOS
4. +Susan Jo STRATIGOS

INDEX

[N4492] Elizabeth J. "Betty" Stratigos
Mar. 1, 1922 - Aug. 1, 2012
SOUTH BEND - Elizabeth J. (Betty) Stratigos, 90, of South Bend, IN and Naples, FL, passed away August 1, 2012 in Indianapolis, her home for the past seven months. Born March 1, 1922 in Wilmington, Illinois to Czechoslovakian immigrants Elizabeth and Martin Gaza, Betty was raised in Chicago, Illinois. She received a diploma from the Lutheran Deaconess Nursing School. She joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in 1945 and served at Fort Custer, Percy Jones General Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan, where she met and married Joseph S. Stratigos, her husband of 66 years. Joe and Betty lived in New York, Evanston, IL and South Bend, where they raised four daughters. For 30 years, they spent every winter at their home in Naples. Betty was a nurse, community volunteer and activist. Betty became active in child abuse prevention and founded a local chapter of Parents Anonymous. Betty later convinced her local congressman, John Hiler, to present a congressional bill to recognize and focus attention on this national problem. In 1983, Betty was present in Washington, D.C. as April was officially proclaimed National Child Abuse Prevention Month. She and Joe served as host parents and welcomed foreign high school and university students to their home from Denmark, Japan, Greece, Lebanon, Egypt and South Africa. Many of those friendships forged years ago still endure 40 years later. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Joseph. She is survived by four daughters, Mary Bryant and Susan Stratigos-Scanlon (Thomas) of Indianapolis, Diana (Kevin) Garvey of Hudson, OH, and Anne Ganser of Lafayette; and grandchildren Brian, Elliot, and Kyle Garvey, Stephanie Gustine, Theresa and John Ganser, and Sarah Scanlon. Services for Betty will be Saturday, August 4, 2012 at Flanner and Buchanan-Lawrence, 5215 N. Shadeland Avenue. Visitation is 3 pm, with a Greek Orthodox funeral service at 5 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Children's Alliance. Burial and a gravesite service in South Bend will follow later, at a date yet to be determined. Online condolences and a video tribute of Betty may be shared at www.flannerbuchanan.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune on August 3, 2012

Elizabeth J. "Betty" Stratigos
March 1, 1922 - Aug. 1, 2012 SOUTH BEND - Graveside services will be 3 pm Friday at Highland Cemetery. Family plot is located near the Knute Rockne memorial. Rev. George Konstantopoulos of St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church will conduct the Trisagion service, with final services by Rev. Jim McConnell of Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and military honors. Memorial donations may go to Prevent Child Abuse St. Joseph County, c/o Family and Children's Center, 315 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601.
Published in South Bend Tribune on August 23, 2012