Jean was the oldest of 8 children of Evelyn and William Ford.  Her siblings were; Maxine, Salatha, Willie Joe, Raymond, Charlotte, John and Geraldine.  It has been said that Jeans middle name (Harlow) was the namesake of the late Jean Harlow who was a movie star back in the day.

Jean married Eddie Milton and together they had a son who was named after his mother; Gene Allen Milton.  Jean had a great love for her husband, son and children, her son was her pride and joy.

In the early years, the family came out of Topeka, Kansas and settled in Omaha, Nebraska.  Jean being the eldest in the family helped raise the younger ones.  We looked to her as our big sister.  She learned her life skills from her mother.  Her specialty was cooking, collard greens, beans, cornbread, neckbones and chitlins.  She could do it all.  Another skill of Jeans was “pressing hair”.  There was no going to the hairdresser with 5 sisters.  On Saturday night you could smell the hair in the kitchen as the sisters got their hair pressed for Sunday morning church.  With this trade she learned at home she could have easily had her own beauty salon business.  Even the neighbor’s children could be found up under Jeans hot comb.  She was noted in the neighborhood for helping other children.  Jean was very generous and sharing.

Just being around Jean made one feel good.  She liked people and made friends very easily.  She had a good sense of humor and loved to laugh even in demanding situations she makes you laugh.  Everyone in the family looked to Jean because she was our Big Sister.

Jean was a “Daddy’s Girl” meaning that her and our other oldest sister, (Maxine) were my father’s favorite.  They seemed to get away with things us younger children could not get away with.  They were allowed to do things that the younger children could not.  They would escape punishment when we could not.  However, the truth be told she was our favorite also.

Jean Harlow (Ford) Milton loved life and she lived it to the fullest.  She will be greatly missed.

 

June 18, 1935 ~ April 17, 2021

Elizabeth “Betty” Kaczenski peacefully passed away Saturday April 17th at home in Omaha, Nebraska. She was Born June 18, 1935 to Mae & Joseph Killoran in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Betty was succeeded in death by her parents Mae and Joseph Killoran, and siblings Francis Killoran, Ellen Small, Patricia Hawkins, Ann Killoran, Joseph Killoran, Daniel Killoran. Betty is survived by children Karen (Steve) Schrader, Jeanmarie (Joe) Hill, Michael (Stephanie) Rosenberger, and Thomas Rosenberger, and lived to enjoy her 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, a large extended family of stepchildren, nieces, nephews, and family-like friends across the world.

In 1959 Betty was married to Sylvester J. Rosenberger Jr., and together they raised 4 children as well as fostered 7 additional children through the Angel Guardian Home of New York. She was widowed and thrice remarried. In 2003, she and Edward Kaczenski celebrated their love  with a sunset beach ceremony and marriage in Hawaii that endured until Ed’s passing in August 2010.

Betty graduated from high school and went to work in bookkeeping and accounting services for New York Life Insurance Company, Grumman Aerospace in New York and The University of Nebraska Medical Center student financial services in Omaha, NE before retiring to a full and rewarding volunteer career which included the Residence at Timber Pines, St. Vincent dePaul and local Spring HIll FL food pantries. She found her most fulfilling purpose in service to the Central Florida USO at Tampa International Airport. Betty was a frequent driver assisting neighbors travel to and from the airport, She became part of the facility hospitality welcoming military visitors, veterans, and currently enlisted service member and their families from December 2012 thru March 2020, when she returned to Omaha to be near family during COVID.

Betty was particularly known for her patriotism and devotion to the USO; especially proud of her project to distribute retired American flag stars to US veterans.  As a result of her handiwork, more than 125,000 stars were distributed throughout the world. Notably she never left home without a few in her purse, gave them out personally and distributed her US flag stars to others for the same purpose. Notably, her stars travelled internationally with INVICTUS Games warrior athletes and US Olympic teams travelling abroad. In her “spare” time; she enjoyed the benefits of retired living in Manor Place at Timber Pines and The Residence at Timber Pines.

In her “spare” time Betty enjoyed ceramics, dining out, neighborhood gatherings at her community gazebo and family travel adventures. In 2019, she took her Disney Princesses on a Cinderella coach tour of the Omaha Old Market; stopping traffic and inspiring admiring photo-ops in full regalia while creating a magical moment in forever-ever land for her great-grandchildren.

She was a Nature Coast Toastmaster member and spoke eloquently and often on topics that included the USO, flag history and etiquette, perseverance and personal growth. Betty was a life long learner and shared her abundant sense of mirth and faith with others and in all that she has done.

In 2015 was the Betty was the Central Florida USO  volunteer of the year and donated more than 8,000 hours of service at the Tampa center and in support of events supporting military families throughout Central Florida. She staffed the USO Welcome desk 3 mornings a week for numerous years with her favorite volunteer family and friends.

A mass of the resurrection will be held on Thursday 4/22/2021 – 8:30 AM at Roeder Mortuary – Gretna Chapel, Gretna, Nebraska followed by interment of ashes at Omaha National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Betty’s name to:

Central Florida USO 4100 George J Bean Parkway Suite 2441 Tampa, Florida 33607

VNA Hospice 12565 West Center Road Omaha, Nebraska 68144

Heartland Hope Mission 2021 U Street Omaha, Nebraska 68132

 

Roeder Mortuary – 11710 Standing Stone, Gretna NE 68028 (402) 496-9000