Betty H. Nolan

Betty H. Nolan, 97, of Naperville, Ill., passed away peacefully at her home after a short illness on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, surrounded by the love of her granddaughter and pastor.

  Betty was born on Jan. 15, 1926, in Mason City, Iowa, to Marie Nee Wilson and George C. Hamann and lived in the small town of Luana, Iowa, where her parents built and ran a supper club, The Heidelberg, where Betty lived with them in an apartment on top.

  Betty grew up in Luana and attended a three-story schoolhouse for all of her elementary, middle school, and high school classes. Betty graduated in 1943 from Luana High School and went on to become a Hawkeye at the University of Iowa.  She recalled attending an afternoon tea dance there wearing a red dress, which caught the eye of a man who was soon to become the love of her life, William Nolan. Betty would say they “just clicked” so she graduated with her “MRS” degree on Jan. 14, 1945. They were truly a team in everything they did. Bill and Betty were later blessed with children, William C. Nolan and Carol Marie Nolan, and later blessed with grandchildren, William Nolan III, John Nolan, Jeffrey Kennedy, and Meghan Kennedy, and as the family grew over time, Betty was blessed with an extended family including, Alexandra Baines, as a granddaughter, and many other friends and family members whom she adored.

  Betty’s devoted faith never wavered and involvement in her faith community at St. Timothy’s was of the utmost importance to everything she did. Betty loved to travel, including places like England, Spain, Morocco, and Alaska, to name a few. Betty also enjoyed watching the Cubs and overseeing her Iowa Farm. And will of course always be remembered by her words of motto, “do the best you can with what you have got and put it in the hands of the Lord.”

  A visitation was held on Sunday, May 21, from noon-4 p.m., at Friedrich Jones Funeral, Naperville, Ill.  Services were held on Monday May 22, at 10 a.m., at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Naperville.