Betty Jo Goldman Hoogerwerf

A life so beautifully and bravely lived deserves to be fondly remembered. The Hoogerwerf Family is saddened to announce the passing of its matriarch, Betty Jo, on April 1, 2023 at home in New Orleans, LA.

Born and raised in Bladon Springs, AL, Betty was the daughter of the late Nellie Flint Hallenbeck. Betty Jo was an auburn beauty and a self-motivated perfectionist who excelled at every pursuit from a young age.

Valedictorian of the 1948 class of Choctaw County High School, young Betty Jo was also voted by her classmates as the most popular senior girl as well as the student most likely to succeed.

And succeed she did! Betty then graduated from the 20th Century Business College in Mobile, AL where she was recruited by the US Army as a clerk stenographer, mastering the arts of shorthand, writing and editing as well as all secretarial skills.

Later, Betty worked for the US Port of Embarkation in New Orleans, LA. She rose through the ranks of the US Department of Agriculture, becoming an executive assistant to scientists running the Southern Regional Research Center.

Ever the overachiever and consistently amiable diplomat, Betty’s career culminated in an amazing 53 years of service to the Government of the United States during 11 consecutive American presidential administrations, starting with Harry Truman and ending with George W. Bush.

Few men on this planet, much less any women, work in a full time capacity to the silver age of 78. Betty simply loved her job as a secretary. Having grown up on a real farm, picking a pear from the tree outside her bedroom window for her favorite snack, Betty was enthralled with the scientific advances of agricultural products grown in the South.

Betty’s superiors recognized her performance with over 50 certificates of merit and numerous special awards, including excellence by support personnel in 2006 from Sigma XI, the Scientific Research Society of America. After receiving SRRC’s most valuable employee of 2004, Betty was part of a skeleton staff relocating to North Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina until the restored center reopened in conjunction with her 50 year celebration of Federal service.

Ironically, Betty navigated multiple simultaneous roles as a working woman and happily married military wife of the late John W. Hoogerwerf, Jr. USMM, her beloved husband of 51 years.

During much of the year, Betty was the primary parent at home with her children. She kept the home fires burning. Her steadfast support of her husband’s career as a marine engineer working onboard ship for Lykes Brothers Steamship Company allowed John, a WWII Veteran who rode down three Liberty ships, to serve his country once again, especially during the Vietnam War and several Middle Eastern conflicts.

As a couple, Betty and John Hoogerwerf embodied many endearing qualities. They were true-blue American patriots, lifelong dog lovers, fun partiers, ballroom dancers at The Blue Room and The Jefferson Orleans and avid card players. Most importantly, the Hoogerwerfs were zealous communicators who appreciated the lost art of letter writing, with literally thousands of love letters exchanged with John at sea, oceans away on the other side of the world. Sadly, this loving couple just never had enough time in the same place at the same time, but will surely enjoy resting together for all eternity.

As the devoted mother of Stanley Raymond Hoogerwerf (Susan) (Jane dec.) and Lisa Anne Hoogerwerf Overing, Betty chose parochial schools to educate her children, serving on the St. Dominic Mother’s Club. She later participated in functions at Jesuit High School, St. Mary’s Dominican High School and the Archdiocesan Honor Bands.

Betty never failed to help her kids, as children or as adults, always encouraging them to live their own lives while embracing their God given talents that she carefully nurtured. With his mother’s example, Stanley also succeeded in the government sector, serving for decades in the New Orleans Police Department, rising through the ranks. Lisa forged her own path, jointly honoring her parents’ fields, as an author and creative director in the yachting and maritime industries.

With a small but close knit family, Betty is also the loving grandmother of Stephen Hoogerwerf (Chaneve) and Kathryne Hoogerwerf Eichelman (Patrick). She is the great grandmother of Arjen and Enzo Eichelman and adored Convoy, her granddog.

Please join and support the Hoogerwerf Family to celebrate Betty’s life on April 7 at Lakelawn Cemetery. Visitation begins at 9:30 AM preceding a Catholic funeral service at 12 PM, followed by immediate interment.

At 92, Betty was among the very last of America’s greatest generation and a fixture in New Orleans’ Lakeview neighborhood for over 70 years. Betty’s family is eternally grateful to her dear, longtime friend and caregiver, Winnie Anderson, and all of her wonderfully caring neighbors, especially Sean Chachere. We thank the entire staff of Oschner Health, and most of all, the team at LHC Heart of Hospice for their compassion and comfort for Betty while battling end-stage Alzheimer’s. Beautiful Betty’s broad shoulders and magnificent brain ultimately bore the world’s heaviest burden with courage, grace and dignity, always