Elizabeth "Betty" Senderling

Elizabeth Marie Senderling, otherwise known as Betty, was born on May 11, 1943, in Philadelphia, PA to Elizabeth and Henry Broadbent. She was baptized in the Catholic faith as an infant in 1943, took first communion in 1951 and was confirmed in 1956. Betty was the youngest of three children. The eldest was her sister Agnes Flanagan, and followed by their brother Michael (Dukie) Broadbent. Their early years were very difficult and their mother put them in the care of the Catholic orphanages for five years while she worked multiple jobs and had health issues. Her mother eventually married Lou Novakowski who quickly said ‘Let’s go get your children’, and brought them home. He only lived a short time, but had a profound effect on Betty’s life. Betty attended and graduated from St. Hubert’s Catholic High School for Girls. She would often recall stories of going down to the studios where the popular TV program American Bandstand with Dick Clark was broadcast live. Dancing while the bands played was one of her favorite memories. Betty also loved theater and acted in many performances and local productions. She performed in Summerstock and also performed many plays and comedies. Comedies were her favorite. Betty met her husband, Jon Senderling, when he crashed a party she was hosting for her sorority sisters. She fondly remembered him coming to the party and bringing all his friends. They married on March 27, 1965, and had three children – Jon Senderling, Jr., Tracy (Senderling) Aukes and Michael Senderling. Betty spent her time caring for and raising her children, and they spent weekends enjoying time with other relatives including her sister and their children. After moving to Texas in 1976, Betty began her career in the human resources field. She worked for many different companies over the course of her life, such as Rockwell International, MCI, Drake Beam Morin and Diamondback. Betty converted to the Lutheran faith and joined Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas in 2007, where she became an English as a Second Language teacher. She loved her students and would take them to eat at different restaurants and would frequently have them over to her house. She was also very active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and would save her coins religiously to help fill up her Mite Box! Betty loved helping others and had a wonderful community of neighbors in Plano that looked after each other. Betty relocated to Urbandale, Iowa, in 2016 to be close her daughter, Tracy Aukes and family. Betty enjoyed spending time with her family, and particularly enjoyed being “MiMi” to her grandchildren, Sean, Dylan, Nathaniel, Christine, Jules and Samantha. She loved to read, work on word searches and play bingo with her friends at Illahee Hills. She also loved playing Scrabble with her friends. Betty passed away at her home at the age of 77 on January 6, 2021, with her daughter, son and caregiver, Bobbi, at her side. Betty is preceded in death by her mother, Elizabeth Novakowski; her brother, Henry Michael Broadbent; her husband, Jon Senderling, Sr.; her son, Michael Senderling and sister, Agnes Flanagan. She is survived by her son, Jon Senderling, Jr. (Devin Rose); daughter, Tracy Aukes (John Aukes); and her six grandchildren – Sean Senderling (Melissa), Dylan Senderling, Nathaniel Aukes, Christine Aukes, Jules Senderling and Samantha Senderling. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews. Condolences may be left on her obituary at https://caldwellparrish.efuneral.com or emailed/mailed to her children. Betty was a champion for those in need so in lieu of flowers, please send memorials to The Salvation Army, http://bit.ly/3bkf7Ax. Please use aukesfamily@gmail.com as the recipient address so we may thank you.