Bette Jo Reich

Elizabeth Josephine ‘Bette Jo’ (Garzelli) Reich passed away peacefully at 78 on February 19th, 2025 in Petaluma, CA surrounded by family and friends after a long and courageous battle with many illnesses over the years. Her strength and positive outlook on life gave her many more years than she expected for which her family is forever grateful for. Bette Jo is survived by her husband Glenn A. Reich, children Benjamin (Kendall) and Thomas (Jennifer), her beloved grandchildren Dante and Rylan, siblings Antoinette Luiz (Bob), Lori Glenn (Mark), and Jerry Garzelli (Rosemary). She is predeceased by her brother Richard ‘Dickie’ (d. 2010) Garzelli (Kathy). Bette Jo was born November 4th, 1946 in Petaluma to the late Elmo (d. 1999) and Irene (d. 1976) Garzelli. She proudly grew up on their family’s dairy ranch in Petaluma helping her father with ranch chores, and as the oldest of 5 siblings helped her mother cook many meals. She graduated from Saint Vincent De Paul Catholic High School in Petaluma in 1964. In 1971 she moved to Sun Valley, Idaho with one of her dearest friends Nancy Seppi, whom she had known and stayed close to since 1965. In 1972 Bette Jo moved back to Petaluma to be closer to her family. Bette Jo married Glenn in 1975 at the Saint Philip the Apostle Church in Occidental, CA. She recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary amongst close friends and family. Bette Jo and Glenn had lived together on her grandparents ranch since 1985. Since retiring 12 years ago she was able to sit back and take in the beauty of their property from her back porch enjoying her grandchildren, the sun, birds, vineyard, and her garden that she loved full of roses, sweet peas, and dahlias. This is where countless friends who came by the ranch to visit would find her. Bette Jo was deeply rooted in her community. She is widely remembered from her 25 years of working at Wells Fargo at which she became friends with every customer she came across. Bette Jo is fondly remembered as a 4H leader (sheep). She was a devout Catholic attending church for as long as she was physically able to. She was proud of her Italian heritage and travelled to Italy with family to connect with her history. She was an accomplished knitter and loved to knit baby blankets for every new baby she came across. She enjoyed playing cards, bunco, reading, canning pickles, and baking pies and her famous crème puffs for special occasions. Bette Jo cherished her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins and took pride in keeping the family together through large family get togethers. She was a Godmother to Ellen McIsaac Durrer through a lifelong friendship with the McIssac family. Bette Jo also had many other dear friendships that she organized yearly events with. She will be missed by so many. If she had any parting messages you can be sure it was to keep your loved ones close, celebrate everything, appreciate good health, and cherish each moment that you have. May she be at peace reunited with her parents, brother, and daughter Angelique. In lieu of sending flowers a donation may be made to a charity of your choice or plant a rose in her honor. Friends and family are invited to attend her funeral service at Parent Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma, CA. Saturday, March 15th at 10:00 AM