Obituary of Elizabeth Troja Bryan

Bryan, Elizabeth Troja 88, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 10th, 2012. "Betty Lou" was born in Fort Madison, IA, on August 29th, 1923 to John Stephen and Ella Kokjohn Troja. As a true member of the Greatest Generation, she quickly learned the meaning of "sacrifice". Growing up during the Great Depression with two older brothers and two older sisters she was fortunate to have a wonderful family that always pulled together to make sure there was plenty of love and support to go around. She was so proud of her family. So few of us today can appreciate and understand what this Great Generation went through to provide the wonderful world we live in today. Betty attended St Joseph's School, in Fort Madison, followed by her attendance at Ottumwa Heights (IA) Academy and College, where her aunt, Mary Collette, the Mother Superior General of the Sisters of Humility of Mary, provided support and guidance until her graduation. She then moved to Des Moines, IA, where she worked for Bankers Trust Company. It was 1949 in Des Moines where she met her husband, Gerald Aloysius Bryan (Navy LTJG) of Owensboro, Ky, on a blind date set up by a WWII Navy buddy who just happened to be a VP at Bankers Trust. "Gerry" was a CPA working for Arthur Andersen in Chicago. The two spent the next year exchanging love letters and traveling between Chicago and Des Moines to see each other until they married on September 9th, 1950 at St. Augustin's Church, Des Moines, IA. They later moved to Vincennes, In, where they started a family when their daughter Mary Elizabeth Bryan, born March 29, 1952. By the mid 50's Gerry and Betty Lou had moved to Louisville, Ky. The family expanded with the addition of James Montgomery Bryan in 1956 and John Peter Bryan in 1958. Betty Lou was a proud wife and mother. She loved being "mom"...driving her children to their many sporting events, playing bridge with her friends and just living the great American dream. She was active in PTA's and was a member of the original "Cabbage Patch Club" in Louisville where she had lots of fun knitting, sewing and quilting with her friends. Betty and Gerry moved the family to Bronxville, NY, in 1969, only to return to Louisville in 1973. In 1978 Betty Lou and Gerry retired to Madeira Beach, Fl. where they spent many wonderful years together before Gerry's passing in 2001. They were married 51 years. Known as "Betty" to her recent friends, "Nana" to her four grandchildren, "Betty Lou" to her husband and old friends, and "Mom" to her children, she is preceded in death by her loving husband, both parents, her sisters Kathlyn Elizabeth (Dolly) and Mary Jane, her brothers, John Stephen and Theodore Albert. She is survived by her children, Mary Elizabeth, James Montgomery and John Peter (Kelley). Her grandchildren, James, Erin, Allie, and Joseph, along with many loving nephews and nieces, extended family and close friends, Donna Miller, Patty Myer, John Hall and several friends at Stratford Court. Memorial services for Betty Lou will be at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Seminole, at 10am on Monday, June 18th. Betty Lou will be laid to rest at 12:45pm next to her loving husband Gerry at Bay Pines Memorial Cemetery in St. Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, please send donations dedicated to Betty Lou directly to Suncoast Hospice of Palm Harbor, Fl.