March 28, 1938 – May 6, 2020
Preceded in death by sister, Eileen, Parents Frank and Rose Rothanzl. Survived by husband,
Donald Rowland; Children Debra (Pablo) Ondar , Denise (David) Muck ,Ricardo (Patricia) Ariza , Liz Ariza, Michael (Julie) Ariza, and Marie (Jerome) Clark; 19 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren,
3 Great Great Grandchildren; Brothers, Sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews. Private funeral service Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home. Live service available on Westlawn-Hillcrest Facebook Page at 11 AM. Interment: Westlawn-Hillcrest cemetary. Memorials suggested to Operation Smile. If you wish to attend, please go to Westlawn-Hillcrest Obituaries for policy on attending the service.
Life Story
On Wednesday, May 6, 2020 Elizabeth (Betty) passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her children and husband Mr. Donald Rowland. Betty had six children in her first marriage to Manuel R. Ariza: Debra Ondar (Pablo), Denise Muck, (David), Ricardo Ariza (Patricia), Liz Ariza, Michael Ariza (Julie) and Marie Clark (Jerome). 19 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great Great Grandchildren.
She grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska with her parents: Frank and Rose Rothanzl. Her siblings included Eileen, Ed, John, Jim and Dick. She developed culinary skills in Czech and Mexican cuisine. She enjoyed painting, gardening, artistic crafts, sewing and sharing stories about her life. Her loving spirit embraced all of humanity. A few of her favorite service projects included the Mary Madeline Project which provided burial gowns to infants who passed at birth and she spent endless hours sewing walker bags and lap quilts for the elderly in nursing homes. She crocheted hats and quilted blankets for veterans and homeless shelters. She truly embraced being a servant and always thought of others. In addition, she financially supported Operation Smile.
Betty worked full-time while raising her six children. She worked in a factory in downtown Omaha called Tip Top and worked and retired from Western Electric. She was well known for selling her enchiladas. At one point in time owned and operated Ariza’s Mexican Restaurant in downtown Omaha. She had an entrepreneurial spirit which she passed on to her six children.
