Betty Gavora

Betty Gavora of San Antonio, TX, entered eternal rest on January 3, 2020, at the age of 84. She passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the hour of noon - when the sun is at its highest point and shadows are at their shortest; often viewed as the best part of the day. Betty always loved the best of things and she always saw the best in others.

Betty was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, where she graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Trinity University and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from Lamar University. She met her husband in the Netherlands and moved with him to Canada where she had her son, Mark, in 1966.

She spent her impressive career working as a corporate communication specialist and had the distinguished honor of serving a Congressional Internship in Washington D.C. for the late Congressman Henry B. Gonzales.

Betty was also an educator; a professor at Lamar and a teacher at a local prison. She spoke fondly of her work and had a particular passion for mentoring and inspiring prison students through her speech communications classes. Betty’s heartfelt respect for them was truly reciprocated. For instance, when she would walk through the prison to her classroom, her students would call out, “Step aside! Our teacher is coming through!” Instantly, the crowds of inmates would part to create a path for their highly-regarded teacher.

In 1999, Betty’s son, Mark, married Lizbeth in Guadalajara, MX. Liz rounded out Betty’s life by becoming her daughter-in-love.

In 2002, Betty retired from Entergy (formerly GSU) located in Beaumont, TX. She spent just shy of 20 years with the company and rose through the ranks to her pinnacle role as Communications Senior Lead Specialist.

After retirement, Betty moved back to her hometown of San Antonio to be closer to family. There, she continued her avid involvement in professional organizations. In 2016, she won the Toastmasters’ Great Oratory Performance Award for delivery of a speech called “Make the Most of Your Dash,” a tribute to her sister who strove to make the most of life while battling terminal cancer. Betty was also deemed a Lifelong Member of Executive Women International (EWI), an organization for women in business that focuses on professional growth and the community. She held her EWI sisters and the work of the group close to her heart for nearly 50 years.

Betty was professionally accomplished, but she was also skilled at enjoying the finer things in life such as world travel, gourmet cuisine, renowned musical performances, high fashion, and, of course, the finest of all basketball teams, 5-time NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs! Go Spurs go! Betty was a proud and active member of two Red Hat Society clubs, providing her with treasured friendships and fun for over a decade.

Betty joins her parents, Frank and Dorothy Steitle, her brother, Jimmy Steitle, and her sister, Gina Wilson, in Heaven. She is survived by her loving son, Mark Gavora, and devoted daughter-in-law, Lizbeth, both with whom she held a special bond. Their two children, Faith and Christopher, were the light of their Grandma Betty’s world.

Please join us in wearing colorful attire, such as electric blue or red, as we celebrate Betty’s beautiful life during three Catholic services:

Mass

Saturday, January 25, 1:00 PM

Saint Francis of Assisi

4201 De Zavala Rd.

San Antonio, TX 78249

Vigil

Sunday, January 26, 2:00 PM

Sunset North Funeral Home

910 N Loop 1604 E

San Antonio, TX 78232

Burial

Monday, January 27, 10:00 AM

Resurrection Cemetery

Cordi-Marian

11624 Culebra Road

San Antonio, TX 78253

(Station 8, Niche 63)

Psalm 23:6

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”