Betty Wilz

Beatrice L. """"Betty"""" Wilz, 75 of Long Beach died Thursday, March 2, 2006 in Long Beach after a lengthy battle with scleroderma and pulmonary arterial hypertension. She was born June 30, 1930 in Durand, Wisconsin, the daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Zeilinger) Weisenbeck. After graduating from Eau Claire Teacher's College, she taught elementary school in several cities. She married John """"Pat"""" Wilz, a career Air Force officer at Assumption Church in Durand, WI on October 4, 1958. She accompanied him on tours of duty in Canada, Turkey, and several US bases before they retired to Long Beach, Mississippi in 1972. In Long Beach, Betty worked as a librarian and teacher's aide at St. Thomas School and was active in the parish, especially the Altar Society and the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary.
She is survived by her husband; her daughter Ruth Wilz Curcuru, wife of Joe Curcuru of Kenner, LA and their children Jay, Elizabeth, and Michelle; her son Tom Wilz and his dear friend Sandi Kelly of Long Beach; her son Jim Wilz of Athens, GA; her daughter Kathy Wilz of Atlanta, GA; and her son Patrick Wilz, husband of Wendy Wilz of Bay St. Louis. She is also survived by her brothers, Kenneth, Charles, and Thomas Weisenbeck of the Durand, WI area.
Visitation will be Monday, March 6, 2006 from 6 -8 pm at Gulf Coast Funeral Home, Kiln DeLisle Rd. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 am at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Gulfport.
Interment will be in Biloxi National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the """"Rebuild St. Thomas Fund"""" P. O. Box 1529 Long Beach, MS 39560.
An online guest book may be signed at www.gulfcoastfh.com