Betty Joyce Boogaerts

Betty Joyce Richmond Boogaerts died peacefully in Grace Home on Saturday, April 21, 2018 surrounded by her beloved companion of over 30 years, Bill Slattery, and all of her children, due to complications from cancer. She was 86 years old. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 23, 2018 from 5-7 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 with a vigil service at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at St. John Berchman's Cathedral, with Father Peter Mangum officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery. Betty was born on September 7, 1931 in Shreveport, LA, to her parents Marie Leta Dollard Richmond and Boyce Adron Richmond. Betty attended St. Vincent's Convent where she made many lifelong friends and grew in her faith. Betty always told her children that she had lived the life of her dreams by being a stay-at-home Mother to her children. Betty and her husband, James Albert Boogaerts, shared the Joy of their children until his death on April 20, 1988. With her children grown, Betty then found herself in the challenging position of reinventing herself from a devoted Mother of nine to channeling her gifts outward into the world. Betty loved telling the story of how Father Butch Burley of St. Elizabeth Anne Seaton in Shreveport inspired her upon her husband's death by saying, "God needs a Soldier like you, Betty. Doors will Open!" The door of God's Grace did open when Betty went to work as the Insurance Administrator and Retired Priests Advocate for the Catholic Diocese of Northwest Louisiana. Betty cherished her supportive friends and her work in her role as a compassionate care-giver of Retired Priests as they transitioned into retirement. Betty was a patient and supportive Mother with a passion for raising children who could be of service to God. She lived and taught by her cherished motto from her early years of Catholic School education... "AMDG" or "All for the Greater Glory of God!" or, as she said it, "All for the Greater Glory and Honor of God!" She and her devoted companion, Bill Slattery, attended Mass together each week for over 30 years. Inspiring dedication, love and forgiveness in others was her life-long goal. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Albert "Billy" Boogaerts; her sons, Michael Raymond Johnson, James Patrick Johnson, and James Robert Boogaerts, and her step-daughter, Sandra Florence Payne. Betty is survived by her brother, Layne Bonvillain and remaining children, Terry Lynn Broome and husband J.C. of Shreveport, Mary Jane Branch of Smithville, MO, Laura B. Morrow of Shreveport, LA, Randall Clayton Boogaerts and wife, Kim Waggoner Boogaerts of Fort Collins, CO, Eleanor Susanne Nordyke and husband Jeff of Austin, TX, Charles Alan Boogaerts of Shreveport, LA, her step-children, James Albert "Jimmy\" Boogaerts, Jr. and wife, Patti of Stamford, CT, William Garner "Buddy" Boogaerts and wife, Betty of Shreveport, LA, Richard Earl Boogaerts of Shreveport, LA, John Paul Boogaerts of Mims, Florida, Billie Rae Williams and husband, Terry of Owensboro, KY, and many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Michael Johnson, Chris Johnson, Josh Johnson, Ryan Boogaerts, Jared Boogaerts, Stephen Boogaerts, James \"Hunter\" Nordyke, Jacob "Jake" Boogaerts and Nicholas "Nick" Boogaerts. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be J.C. Broome Jr., Bob Cohen and beloved family friend, Kent Rogers. The family is grateful for the loving and compassionate care provided to our Mother by Dr. Robert Massengill, Nurses Leslie French, Christie Belgard, Michelle White, and Michelle Lane, all of Christus Hospice and Grace Home. In lieu of flowers, please send a contribution to: Diocese of Shreveport Retired Priests Fund, 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104.