Betty Popa

Betty Jane Popa, 91, of Traverse City died February 20, 2020 at Munson Medical Center. Betty was born on November 27, 1928 to the late Theodore Carl and Lorraine (Wurm) Yanski. On October 30, 1948 Betty married Leonard Joseph Popa at St. Francis Catholic Church, they celebrated 69 years of marriage together. Betty will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She truly was one of a kind and as good as it gets. Betty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She put her family first, always, and would always go to bat for them. She valued traditions and because of her role as matriarch, the family has always celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas together. Betty was happiest in the kitchen and was an excellent cook. Betty and Leonard owned Len Popa & Sons Construction, which employed all five of their children. At lunchtime when the whole family came home, they couldn’t eat fast enough. As soon as lunch was over out came the cards. Betty loved to play cards, especially black jack at the casino and euchre at home with friends and family. She was a bit of a card shark and luck seemed to always be on her side. Betty also liked to visit Frankenmuth and enjoyed their chicken dinners. It was a family tradition to visit Frankenmuth every Christmas. Faith was also very important to Betty. She was a long time member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Leonard who died in 2017, sister Geneva Yanski, brothers Patrick and Theodore Yanski, brother in law Eddie Kruse and granddaughter Nicole Popa. Betty is survived by her children David (MerriLyn) Popa, Michael Popa, Charles (Mary) Popa, William (Sandra) Popa, and Shelley (Joseph) Becker, grandchildren Christopher (Ashley) Popa, Jonathan Popa, Jennifer Popa, Justin (Jennifer) Popa, Benjamin Popa, Heather (Eddie) Nickerson, Ryan (Brianna) Popa, Jordan (Maura) Popa, Danielle (Jake) Posch, Kyle (Crystal) Popa ; great grandchildren Landon, Kinslee and Reese Nickerson and Addelyn Posch; sister Delores Kruse; sisters-in-law Anne Yanski and Nancy Yanski. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2020 from 5 to 7 pm at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The Rosary will be said at 7:00 pm. The funeral mass will be held at St. Francis Catholic Church on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 10 am with visitation one hour prior. The service will be officiated by Father Don Geyman and Father Ken Stachnik. A luncheon will follow at the VFW Hall on Veteran's drive. Interment will be held at a later date at Oakwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Betty's honor may be directed to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or to the Grand Traverse Pavilions. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your condolences and memories with the family.

Betty Popa

November 27, 1928 - February 20, 2020