Elizabeth Hieber

Born in Harper Hospital in downtown Detroit on July 23,1933, Elizabeth Bodany was the fourth of 5 children blessed upon Elizabeth Gerfy and George Bodany, Sr. The last surviving of her siblings, most likely due to her stubbornness, Elizabeth was the second girl after Ann, George, and Paul, right before her constant companion and partner in crime, Nicky.

At a very young age, Elizabeth made the decision to enter the convent. In 1949, after graduating the eighth grade, Elizabeth joined the Chicago order of the Sisters of Christian Charity as a postulant mistress. She spent the next 4 years preparing to take her final vows, which she did at 16 years old when she became Sister Vincentia.

As Sister Vincentia, Elizabeth lived in the Mother House in Wilmette, Illinois. She was educated at Loyola University, receiving her bachelor’s degree with a 4.0 grade point average from Loyola’s downtown Chicago campus. Times were very different then; Sister Vincentia often had up to 90 first graders in one single class on the South side of the Chicago. She always remembered those days fondly. She loved being a teacher.

After a difficult conversation regarding the growing uncertainty of her decision with a wise, kindhearted priest, who after assuring her that sometimes callings are not for a lifetime, but for a period of time and God would understand, Elizabeth decided to end her vocation as Sister Vincentia. She left the order in 1959 but took with her a lifelong passion to teach. Elizabeth moved back to Michigan, where she lived with her brother Paul and his wife Elfriede. As Miss Bodany, Elizabeth began teaching at St. Raphael and St. Veronica (for the first time) Elementary Schools in Detroit.

Soon after returning to Detroit, Elizabeth met Frank Hieber. Frank was smitten with this beautiful young woman. So much so, he made himself a constant fixture around the Bodany household. Frank did his best to weaken Betty’s resolve until she agreed to marry him. On August 13, 1960, in front of many extended family and friends, Elizabeth Bodany became Elizabeth Hieber, making Frank a very happy man.

Betty and Frank made their home at 5303 Eastlawn Street in Detroit, where she and Frank had 3 daughters: Lisa, Regina, and Monica. Eastlawn Street was filled with amazing neighbors, some we call family to this day. As the family grew, each summer Betty and Frank made trips to Chicago and Toronto to to spend time with extended family. It is fair to say that family was important to both Betty and Frank. Life was good!

When the girls were older, Elizabeth began teaching again. This time at St. David the Evangelist Elementary School. After many frustrations with the city, Frank moved the family to Glander Street in East Detroit in “protest”. But their love for Detroit was strong! Not only was the new house a few streets shy of Detroit, it was a bike ride away from Paul and Elfriede, directly across the street from St. Veronica’s school, where for the second time in her life she would teach. Only this time as Mrs. Hieber. Eventually, at the urging of Frank, Betty returned to school, earning her Master’s Degree from Wayne State University with a 3.9 grade point average. She never quite got over her frustration with that one B+ grade!

Like Eastlawn street, many lifelong friendships were made at St. Veronica. Her longest and closest friendship being with Cheryl Hermann, whom she’s known for 50 plus years. She and her friends, aka the Sisters of the Persuasion, spent their summers freelancing as parking guides for conventions held at Cobo Hall, camping in the Upper Peninsula, holding Friday night gatherings at each other’s homes, and attending various concerts. Betty would definitely be considered a Neil Diamond Super Fan, attending more concerts than you could count! And Betty was VERY competitive. If you accepted her challenge to play Scrabble or Mexican Dominoes, watch out! She showed NO mercy!

Once the girls were finished with high school, Betty made another career change. This time leaving the teaching profession to become the office manager for an orthopedic surgeon. She remained in that position until she retired… for the first time. It was also during this time that Frank passed away at the early age of 60.

Betty and Frank’s girls grew up and married. Luckily, Lisa and her husband Roy jumpstarted the next and, for sure, her most favorite life chapter; that of “Grammy” to Liz, Lexi, and Megan. Monica and her husband Stuart later added Lehualani and Nahokulani to her beautiful grandchildren. Gina and Mark’s contribution was numerous grand dogs; not as special as the girls but loved just the same. Eventually Betty decided to retire… again… for the second time.

With time on her hands, Elizabeth often found herself on the Archdiocese of Detroit website. You know, “just looking” through open teaching positions in the area. On a whim, she applied for a position teaching 5th grade at Eastside Catholic Elementary School in Detroit and, of course, she was hired. Elizabeth was Mrs. Hieber once again and a whole new generation of students won the lottery!

A few years later, the Archdiocese began closing schools in Detroit. Rather than take a teaching position away from a younger colleague, Elizabeth retired... for a third time; but this time, it was a good thing. This opening in her schedule allowed her to move to Hawaii to spend some much cherished “Grammy Time” with Lehua and Nahoku.

Grammy moved into an apartment in the same building as the Silva family. This meant that she and the girls could spend as much time at Grammy’s house as possible. This time included ice cream, sleep overs and Grammy walking the girls to and from school. After getting to know the teachers, Gram was asked to teach a part-time computer pilot class at the girls’ school. This allowed her to spend even more time with Lehua and Nahoku, so she happily said yes. So, well into her 70’s, Gram became Mrs. Hieber for the fourth time. She was thrilled. 

After some time, Gram moved back to the mainland and lived with Gina and Mark. After all, it was only fair that she spent some quality time with the grand dogs. Liz, with her husband Brett, Lex and Megan made frequent trips in from Los Angeles to visit Gram. She spent her days playing games and making puzzles with her good friends Cheryl, Janet, Mary, and June. And, as only Gram could do, she often played online Scrabble well into the night with “her many friends in Dubai” (yes, this is a true story). Eventually, Gram settled into her house on Maple Street and back into life on the lake. Coming full circle as she once again was living with her sister-in-law Elfriede. Only a few houses down from her good buddies Cheryl and Janet and a couple of streets away from her lifelong Eastlawn friend, Henrietta Stoddard. Jam spent the days smoking cigarettes on the front porch, sharing the house with old dogs, and spending quality time with her favorite people. These were very good days!

Over the years, depending on who you are and when you met, you will have known Elizabeth as Lizzie, Sister Vincentia, Miss Bodany, Liz, Betty, Betty Boop, Mrs. Hieber, Grammy O, or Jamalama Jing Jang, all which suggests she led an interesting, beautiful, blessed, full life. Know that her grandchildren are nearest to her heart; and while she may have been a tough teacher, her actions were always rooted in love. Firm, but always fair, she honestly remembered and treasured every single student that stepped into her classroom. She had a sharp wit, a strong set of values and gave the most amazing hugs! No matter who you were, or what you believed in; you were respected and loved unconditionally.

If you are unable to join us to celebrate Jam’s life, please take a moment, and say a little prayer. I promise; she will hear you! And if you listen closely, she will respond. It will probably be her telling you to put an undershirt on because she's cold; just know that is her way of telling you she loves you to the moon and back.

To be 90 years old; of sound mind, have pretty good health, and consistently surrounded by people whom you love deeply, and they you, is unmatched. May we all be this lucky.

What a Lady! Such a good, good life… So glad you were a part of it. 

Memorial donations may be made on behalf of Elizabeth and Boom to Pack Ethic Rescue in upstate New York. Our family will be forever grateful to Eric and Kerry for the love, care and safe space which was provided to our beloved Boom ♥️

Read a little bit about Boom's life at Pack Ethic here https://www.packethic.net/boom Donate to Pack Ethic here https://www.packethic.net/donate So grateful for Keri and Eric! We should all have such champions!