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Obituary
Bette Lou Nadeau, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on November 17th, 2024 at the age of 97. Born on October 1st, 1927 in Valley Falls, Kansas. Bette lived a full life filled with love, laughter and a fierce dedication to her family. Her spirit will continue to be alive in her family and the many people that she touched and were lucky enough to know her.
Bette was married to Jim Nadeau in 1948 and they began building a family and a business, Tri-City Oil and G & J Cartage, which would continue to be the family business for many years after. As a real estate agent, Bette enjoyed helping others find the perfect home and best deal to begin their own lives and forever supported her children and grandchildren in those endeavors. She was the first President of the Downriver Board of Realtors Women's Council helping to develop the local chapter of the National organization. Bette started Second Time Around, a resale shop in Riverview and also enjoyed organizing and supporting downriver community theater.
As a young woman Bette enjoyed traveling with her husband, friends and family. She spent many years going to Las Vegas to see Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis and Dean Martin among others. She traveled to Acapulco, Europe and all over the United States. She spent many years in Florida eventually buying a villa in Bradenton that became a second home to her and her family for many years with beautiful memories on Anna Maria Island. She took pride in decorating and caring for the many homes that she and Jim owned and was known for her warm and inviting homes. She loved her children dearly creating a home that they and their friends loved to spend time together in and those friends continue to remember Mrs. Nadeau fondly as she was a friend to young and old.
Her ultimate passion was her family and grandchildren, and eventually her great grandchildren. Bette was a force and constant presence in their lives. She loved to have her children and grandchildren with her for trips to the Farm, Florida or the cottage. Her grandchildren often walked to her house for lunch or after school and came for sleepovers or to just hang out. Bette was known for getting involved in all of the kids fun from big sundaes after school to participating in mischievous kid fun for the last day of school parties. As her grandchildren got older, she and Jim were always supporting college endeavors and first home purchases. She supported even the smallest successes with celebration and told everyone around her how proud she was of her family. She was fiercely protective and devoted to her family, telling everyone she could until her very last days– “there isn’t one bad apple in the bunch.” She shared that her happiness was raising kind, thoughtful humans and by doing that she found her purpose in life.
Bette had a personality and spirit that marked an impression on all who met her. She offered amazing advice, insight, compliments and honesty. Bette instilled in her family to live life fully and to follow your dreams and passions. She was passionate about many things and would love to sit and talk for hours with her family–politics, history, real estate. If she couldn’t talk to you directly, she would write. Bette wrote many notes, lists and letters wanting to document all of her thoughts and the history of her life and family. She was very proud of what she accomplished.
Bette leaves behind a legacy of love through her surviving family: daughter Marsha (Kevin) Ahern; grandchildren, Aimee (Marc) Miller, Kerri (Chris) Bernard, Kevin Ahern, Jimmy (Sam) Nadeau and Thomas (Jessica) Nadeau; great-grandchildren, Connor, Caitlin, Kevin, Ryan, Evan, Liam, Caleb, Addy, James, Olivia, Andrew and Charlie. Preceding Bette in death are her husband, James W. Nadeau and her beloved son, James A. Nadeau.
Bette’s life was a testament to living a life of love and devotion to family and friends and never faltering to seize the day. A quote she wrote down and saved; Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in an attractive and well reserved body—But rather, to skid in sideways, martini in one hand, and strawberries in the other, body totally used up, totally worn out, and saying WHOPPEE!! Life was Good!
