Betty Jane Dempsey

Betty Jane Dempsey

July 5, 1926 – April 18, 2022

Betty Jane Dempsey, 95, passed away on April 18, 2022 in Waxahachie, Texas, with family and caregivers by her side.

Betty was born July 5, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois. A 1944 graduate of Amundsen High School, she married the love of her life, John T. “Jack” Dempsey on August 4, 1945. They had three children and moved to Des Plaines, Illinois in 1960. Betty was a working mom. She retired from Siemens Gammasonics in 1986 after having served as payroll supervisor and ultimately manager of compensation and benefits for this international company. Following retirement, Betty and Jack tried out the “snowbird” lifestyle briefly living in Arizona and Florida. They were both golfers and bridge players. They loved to entertain their friends and family. Betty was an excellent cook and baker. They moved to Palatine, Illinois where Betty volunteered at Northwest Community Hospital. In 2005, Betty moved to Cedar Hill, Texas where she volunteered at the New2You Thrift Store benefitting the Cedar Hill Food Pantry until her knees wore out! Betty loved living in Texas and made many new friends through Bible study, book clubs, bridge clubs and game nights at Cresthaven Village. Betty moved to Brookdale Senior Living in Waxahachie in June 2021 where she continued to make new friends with the residents and wonderful caregivers there.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Susan (Steffen) Baumann and Charles F. Baumann, and husband, John T. “Jack” Dempsey; her aunt Catherine “Kitty” (Steffen) Guirsch, and numerous beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. Betty is survived by daughter, Maureen Dempsey and son-in-law, Steve Rollins; son, Dennis Dempsey and wife Ellynor Martinez; daughter, Shannon Smock and husband Jody Smock; grandchildren Kelly Cardwell and husband, Aaron Cardwell; grandson Sean Smock and wife, Caroline Smock; grandson Miles Dempsey; granddaughter Erin Dempsey; great-grandchildren Ava, Hudson and Campbell Cardwell, Holden and Cooper Smock; honorary niece and nephew, Kathy and Art Munzer, plus all of the Sullivan honorary nieces and nephews; and her faithful, loving feline companion, Petey. Special thank you to the loving, compassionate caregivers at Brookdale Waxahachie and Bristol Hospice.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Envision Dallas www.envisionus.com; Guiding Eyes for the Blind www.guidingeyes.org; or the SPCA of Texas www.spca.org.