Betty McNeill

Betty McNeill Betty called everyone “Love,” a familiar form of address common to English women of her generation. But when Betty called you “Love,” you knew that she meant it in the literal sense of the word. Perhaps it was her Italian heritage that gave the term its added warmth and affection. Born October 25, 1922, of Italian immigrant parents in London, England, Bonaventura Mansi was one of thirteen children. She grew up during perilous times in world history. An Italian group to which she belonged sent her to Italy in 1938 to participate in a youth movement known as the “Future Mothers of Italy.” Although she loved Italy and spoke fluent Italian, she disliked this experience and felt that Mussolini was leading his nation to disaster. During the London bombings, she stayed in the city and continued working as a bookkeeper. After the war, she met and married a young Irish tailor, Joseph McNeill. She and Joe emigrated to the US in 1950 in search of better employment opportunities. For several years, they lived in an apartment complex at 15th and Illinois and often walked or rode a motorcycle to church. Later they moved to a house on the Eastside. Around 1952, Betty met our mother through the Daughters of Isabella and the Queen Marguerite Italian Society, a ladies' club that celebrated Italian heritage. They soon became fast friends, and Betty and Joe became part of our extended family. Years later Betty remarked that after she first saw the living room drapes in our home that she told Joe that she didn't know if she could become our friends because of our lavish lifestyle, which in the 1950's was anything but. A few years later, the McNeills moved to St. Michael Parish, and Betty became active in every phase of the parish, despite her full time employment at Union Title Company, a position she held for thirty-four years. At St. Michael's, she was a member of the women's club and a study club, helped to organize the Christmas Bazaar and volunteered at St. Michael School, Ritter High School, Bingo and many other activities. She also volunteered at Wishard and Westview Hospitals, the Indianapolis Literary Project and other places as well. In 1968, my parents sponsored their citizenship process, and the McNeill's encouraged Betty's sister, Nancy, to emigrate in 1969. Nancy, too, became a dear friend. Everyone loved Betty. She was like a treasured Aunt to us and was always ready to celebrate the good times and support us during the bad ones. She and Joe were also my brother Michael's godparents, a relationship that continued to grow over the years. All who knew Betty appreciated her wit, intelligence, sense of humor, devotion to God and her caring ways. Always the life of the party, she will forever be remembered in our hearts as a model of friendship, service to others and, most of all, Christian Joy. Saint Mother Teresa once said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” Betty McNeill did a lot of smiling. In lieu of flowers the family kindly ask donations to be made to either charity of your choice, Catholic Charities of Indianapolis 1400 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 or American Heart Association 6500 Technology Center Dr #100, Zionsville, IN 46077