Betty Jane Macari (nee Faecke), 80, was called to celebrate Christmas with the Holy Family and her late husband, Mario Macari, Christmas Day, 2011, at Hope Hospice in Cape Coral after a short terminal illness.
She was born, Oct. 2, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wis., the daughter of George and Pauline Faecke. She was a graduate of Nathan Hale, High School in West Allis, Wis., and Milwaukee Area Technical College. She lived in Milwaukee for the majority of her life and also enjoyed residences in Cape Coral, Neshkoro, Wis., and Twin Lakes, Wis.
She was an award winning artist starting with the Milwaukee Journal High School art competition and received art awards throughout her life. She was a member of the Cape Coral Art League, the Lake Geneva Art Association, the Twin Lakes Senior Citizens and the VFW Women's' Auxiliary. She was a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church of Cape Coral and St. John the Evangelist Church in Twin Lakes. In addition, she was a former member of the Pompeii Women's Society of the Milwaukee Italian Community Center and a Lioness while residing in Neshkoro, Wis.
Mrs. Macari retired as a school secretary for the Milwaukee Public Schools and assisted her husband to run Betmar Electric in Milwaukee. She loved the Christmas season and would often play Mrs. Santa Claus for children and elders.
She was happiest when in the company of her family and friends. She was a wonderful mother and loved very much by her children and grandchildren. Survivors include four children, Sr. M. Angela Macari of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Pamela (John) Macari Sanberg, Mario (Mary) Macari and Paul (Renee) Macari; and four grandsons, Mitchello Macari, Daniel and Matthew Macari and Anthony Sanberg. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Ellen Daniel; sisters-in-law, Lee Sudano and Renata (Gerald) Corelli; brother- in- law, Claude (Tess) Macari; nieces; nephews; cousins and many family and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her in-laws, Maria and Duilio Macari; grandson, John Mario Sanberg; her brothersinlaw, Anthony Sudano and Sigmund Daniel; and nephew, Michael Solich.
Services will be held in Cape Coral and Twin Lakes, Wis., as follows:
Visitation/memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 7, from 14 p.m. at the Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1630 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral Florida.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. John the Evangelist Church, 701 N. Lake Ave, Twin Lakes, Wis., Jan. 14, at 11 a.m., with a visitation prior to the mass at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Milwaukee, Wis., at Wisconsin Memorial Park at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14.
Her family would like to thank the staff of Cape Coral Hospital, Dr. Ganatra, Dr. Keith,and Hope Hospice for the excellent care that she and her family received during her illness.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, W284N404 Cherry Lane, Waukesha, WI 53188, or the Wisconsin Nurses Foundation 6117 Monona Dr., Madison, WI 53716.
