Elizabeth Rehm
Age - 99
November 22, 2023
Elizabeth Anne (Betty) Ginocchio RehmSept 10, 1924 - Nov 8, 2023Just as she had wished, Betty Anne Ginocchio Rehm slipped away peacefully November 8th 2023 at her own home, in her own bed with a house full of family. She exemplifies a life well lived, and it was appropriate, as a family friend said, that she waited to move on until after the election. Of course, she had voted early by mail-in ballot!Betty Anne was born on Sept 10, 1924 to Frank and Susan Ginocchio in Lexington Kentucky. She never regretted her only child status, growing up surrounded by her father's Italian family and many friends. If weather permitted, she was outside, roller skating and riding her bike. In her journal, she mentions that her mother gave her the childhood she never was able to experience, full of music (Betty Anne played the piano), and love of drawing and dancing. Her father encouraged her to have fun AND be studious. Both parents encouraged a love of reading that was with her all her life. She was a stellar student at University High, served as editor of the school newsletter and was awarded a scholarship to attend the dramatics division of the National Institute for High School students. At UK, she continued to shine, graduating with honors in 1946. She was a member of Phi Beta (President her senior year), Alpha Gamma Delta, Chi Delta Phi, and SGA (Student Government), along with active roles in Radio Studio, and Guignol productions. Betty Anne was also a member of Mortar Board (an honor society)After completing her undergraduate degree, she taught freshman English to GI's returning from the war during the summer. She remarked in a previous interview with the Woodford Sun that she "invested in a pair of horn-rimmed glasses that she didn't need and pulled her hair back in order to look older. " During that first teaching experience, a GI refused to read The Grapes of Wrath, asserting that it went against his moral beliefs. She was required to offer an alternative, so she offered him The Scarlett Letter. She told the Sun interviewer "You don't educate people to be narrow minded and you also don't educate people away from what they have. You open doors. " That fall she headed to Columbia University in NYC for a masters in English Literature. Betty Anne married her first husband Bill Nave in 1947, and in 1950 they moved to a home they built in Versailles, joined St John's Church, and quickly became active members. At St Johns she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, served on several vestries and search committees, altar guild, flower guild, supper clubs . . . She has done just about everything at least once. Along with church, Betty Anne was a member and former president of the Woodford County Women's Club and served on the Woodford County Hospital Board. Theater friends, church friends, members of organizations, neighbors, in-laws ( including Buzz and Linda Nave) and other relatives - all became life-long friends, who came for dinner and stayed for the conversation which often leaned towards theater, music, politics, religion, etc. and everyone gathered round the piano far into the evening, or sat by the stereo to laugh along with comedians like Johnathan Winters or Tom Lehrer ("New Math" was a favorite because, as she said, it summed up how confusing Math could be for her. Look it up - all those skits and songs are now online!). While at UK Betty Anne had the opportunity to become the first woman announcer at the school's radio station WBKY, as many of her fellow male students were away fighting in WWII. This served her well in the future in Versailles, as she later took a job writing copy for radio station WVLK which at that time had just gone on air from studios on the second floor of the Logan Helm library in Versailles. She liked writing print news better - so when an opportunity arose as editor for the Woodford Sun, she took it. Four young daughters interrupted her work career for a while, but she was always willing to help out at the Sun during employee vacations. However, eventually her calling as an educator finally brought her full circle back to the classroom, first teaching Senior English at Woodford County High, and eventually to Kentucky State University where she taught English and Foundations of Western Civilization. In reality, Betty Anne was always learning herself - she enjoyed getting to know and work with her students, and education was the perfect career. She stayed at KY State until she retired. Throughout those years, Betty Anne was busy raising her family, for 20 plus of those years as a single mother, as her daughters grew up, married, and started their families. But in 1992 she found new love when she married widower Paul Rehm - and how in love they were! That began their adventurous life together - travel to other countries, sailing in the Caribbean, heading to her favorite beach, Holden Beach in North Carolina. Her family grew by two new daughters and their spouses. Life was full and busy. In the midst of it, Betty Anne continued to enjoy her favorite activities - walking with Paul through Versailles, swimming (laps at Falling Springs into her early 90's), reading, keeping up with politics, visiting with friends, being "Nana" to the grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren. She learned to use a computer, iPad, and iPhone. Having her special someone - Paul - made all these activities more meaningful. Theirs was a special love. After Paul's death in 2014, Betty Anne continued doing the things that brought her joy. Trips with family to Holden Beach remained, although as time passed, she had more difficulty walking on the sand. She still enjoyed grandchildren and great-grandchildren visits especially as new ones joined the family. Gale Stivers became a caregiver after a pelvic break and quickly became her friend and confidant as they devised and cooked new recipes and talked politics (of course!). During the Covid years she wore her mask and while having to stay in, she made sure to keep up with the news - reading the New York Times on her iPad during breakfast was a must. Her mind stayed sharp and her ability to correct your grammar at any point (for example: "a cake is "done" / people get "finished") remained with her to the end. The day before she died, she was watching and commentating on a CNN newscast and visiting with family. She also discussed her future with a friend who brought her communion. After commenting that she felt like she was getting ready to "check out", her friend asked what she thought about that. She replied "Curious, Excited and I think it's going to be Good". Definitely a life well lived! Daughter - Student - Educator - Mother - Nana - Friend - Lifelong Learner - Technology Lover - Swimmer - Matriarch. She will always be in our hearts. Elizabeth Anne Ginocchio Rehm is survived by:Her 6 daughters and spouses - Susan (Dan) Carey, Nancy (John) Fritschner, Sally (Mac) Weisenberger, Libby (Kent) Miller, stepdaughters Elizabeth (David) Wachtel, and Martha (Cherryl Hobart) Rehm. Her 14 grandchildren and spouses - Philip (Kristey) Weisenberger, Michael (Harriet Sims-Boone) Carey, Matthew (Johana) Weisenberger, Peter (Brandi) Carey, Amy (Ben) Callahan, Beth (Weston) Amos, Daniel (Nicki) Carey, Violet (Mickey) Marrotta, Joe (Maddy) Weisenberger, Charlie (Ida) Fritschner, Campbell (Anne) Fritschner, Katy Miller, Aly (Woody) Burchett, and Miles Miller. One step grandson, Aaron WachtelHer 24 great grandchildren:Sal Marrotta; Row BurchettJakob Weisenberger; Emilia and Elena Weisenberger; Grant and Jack Callahan; Noah WeisenbergerGeorge, William, and Teddy Fritschner,Lily and Mason Boone; Hunter and Ricky Carey; Joe, Ben, Will, Zel, Agnes, Max and Maria Carey; Lucy AmosDinah WachtelAnd additional family:Her loving cousin, Martin GinocchioBuzz and Linda Nave and many nieces, nephews, and cousinsShe was predeceased by a great grandson, Samuel Callahan and a step granddaughter Tamara Wachtel. ServicesVisitation - Friday, Nov 24th, 3:30-6pm Blackburn and Ward Funeral Home, Versailles KYFuneral Services - Saturday, Nov 25th 11am - St Johns Church VersaillesBurial Service - Monday, Nov 27th 11:30am Woodford CemeteryContributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, Woodford County Library, or KET"Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way you always used. Put no differences into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed. . . . Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word it always was. . . spoken without effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it has ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well" -Henry Scott Holland, Regius Professor of Divinity, OxfordShow more
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