Betty Lee Broussard Heine

Betty Lee Broussard Heine died peacefully on December 30, 2020, after a short battle with COVID. She maintained her captivating smile and positive spirit until the very end. She was born January 27, 1923, in Beaumont, Texas, and married Joseph Heine in 1946 who brought the southern belle to Yankee-land, (after promising that he would return her to Texas each Christmas!) She leaves behind her legacy of seven children: Barbara (David) Hagerman, Joanne (Steve-deceased) Hollenbeck, Susie (Guido-deceased) Borgnini, Carol (Noaman) Botros, Connie (Jim) Lund, Greg (Kathy) Heine, and Marie “Sam” (Ted) Shanks. She is survived by one brother James (Barbara) Broussard from Beaumont, Texas. Her grandchildren knew her as GG (Glamorous Grandmother); she has 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her husband preceded her in death in 1991. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Arthur Lee Broussard, and two brothers Alex Broussard and Dale Broussard, Jr., who died at Iwo Jima.

Betty graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1941 from St Anthony High School, where she played guard on the girls’ basketball team. After she graduated from Lamar College, she worked as a bank teller until she moved to Indiana. She was a go-getter and immersed herself in her children and children’s activities. Her positive spirit surrounded her in everything she did. She was Beta Sigma Phi Girl of the Year in 1954. She was instrumental in organizing the Mothers’ Club at St. Margaret Mary grade school, was a Brownie and Girl Scout Troop leader and a Cub Scout Den mother. When Schulte High School needed help with student transportation, she organized a bus service to meet the need. After marrying off four daughters, she became an astute bridal planner, so took a small business class and opened up her own business, The Bridal Cottage, selling bridal dresses and formal wear. She arranged style shows and presentations, and worked in the business until age 70.

Betty loved people, and she always had a story to tell and a smile to share. She was “news central”, and her kids accused her of having special antennae because she always knew what was going on, and remembered EVERYTHING. She was called the “Queen Bee” because she was always in the center of activity. She attended every ISU Homecoming parade for 50 years. She played bridge well into
her 90’s, and was a master at jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles. She loved the Wheel of Fortune and was an ace at pre-computer video games (her favorite was Burger Time.) She loved to travel, and her travels took her across the globe, including trips through the Panama Canal, cruises around Europe, and an annual spring trip to Florida for over 15 years with her cousins.

She continued her love for basketball as an avid fan—of ISU and the Indiana Pacers. She was also a great shopper (and the genes have been transferred to her kids). She took the bus with friends to Indy to shop at Hoosier Bargain Days, ate at Ayres for lunch with pecan balls for dessert. She also loved to shop by mail—it was fun to order it and then exciting to receive it. She would buy all year for Christmas. She never lost the taste for her southern food: fried oysters, grits, gumbo, pecan pralines, and butter pecan ice cream.

Betty was proud of her family and was especially honored when the family was presented with the Legacy Award from Indiana State University. She always said she was so “fortunate” to have such a wonderful family, and we would often remind her that SHE was the matriarch who sculpted it all.

She was a current member of St. Benedict Church, and a former long-time member of St. Margaret Mary Church. She was a past-president of the Lioness Club, a member of Red Hat Society and The Sycamore Club.

A heartfelt thanks to Westminster Village and to her special caregivers who gave her incredible care and always kept her happy.

The immediate family will gather for a mass, and a Celebration of Life is planned for a later time--when we can give each other hugs.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Benedict Church 111 S 9th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807; or the Indiana State University Foundation 30 North Fifth Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809.