Betty Jane Darish

Betty Jane Darish (née Hymes) of Northville, Michigan and Bradenton, Florida died peacefully on January 10, 2023, ushered into her eternal life by God. Betty Jane was born on 05/14/1924 in Detroit and was the oldest with 7 siblings. Betty Jane and her beloved husband Bill (1915-2015) raised six children: Robert (1947-1951), William M. (Barbara), Kathryn Keating (Tom Miller), Patricia (David Binkley), Thomas (Mary Ellen), and John (Joan). She was an exuberantly proud grandmother and great-grandmother who particularly enjoyed the infant and toddler stages. Betty Jane is remembered by her beloved sister Eileen and preceded in death Polly, Jack, Bob, Dolores, Ellen, and Kay. In the early 40s, Betty Jane started a job as an administrative assistant at Industrial Electric Company in Detroit - a job where she met the love of her life, Bill. Bill and Betty enjoyed almost 70 years of married life together, splitting their time between Northville and East Tawas, Mi and Bradenton, FL as well as traveling extensively. Betty Jane enjoyed spending her vacation time domestically and abroad hunting for special trinkets for members of the family as well as ensuring she was the first in line for every tour and activity. If you traveled with her, or joined her at the blueberry farm, you knew that meant getting up early. One of her favorite sayings was, “We’ve got to be the first ones there!” Betty Jane also devoted significant time to supporting grieving families who lost children to leukemia after the loss of their oldest son, Robert. Shortly after Robert’s death, Betty and Bill founded the Detroit chapter of the Leukemia Society. During this time, they also met Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, in the basement of a Detroit church and supported him in developing the idea for the hospital and network that would go on to support millions of families. A fiery redhead with limitless energy and determination, Betty Jane was well known for her love of bingo games (she won more than she lost!); music, particularly the organ; painting with watercolors and acrylics, resulting in artwork that adorns the walls and countertops of loved ones; animals, particularly her beloved cat Rusty, who once saved their life; collecting stuffed animals and Swarovski crystal animal figurines; her need for speed in her 4 speed Trans Am that she purchased when she turned 40; winning big on the Price is Right in the 60s as well as at Vegas slot tournaments; her beloved friends from Palma Sola; her famous Thanksgiving jello molds and blueberry jam, which she shared far and wide; Canasta; her can-do attitude; and her devotion to God and the Catholic Church. Betty Jane was a lifelong learner who took up golf in her 60’s, and the ukulele at age 97, singing songs for anyone who would take a seat and listen. We are certain she’s continuing to carry a tune up in Heaven. Visitation Friday, January 13th, 5 - 7 PM (Rosary at 6 PM) at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West (Between Sheldon and Beck), Plymouth. She will be Laid-in-State Saturday, January 14th, 9:30 AM until the 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 133 Orchard Drive, Northville, MI. A private interment is scheduled at a later date. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Victory Parish, 133 Orchard, Northville MI 48167, or the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Gift Processing Administrator, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive Triangle, VA 22172.

Betty Jane Darish

May 14, 1924 - January 10, 2023