Betty L. Enoch

Betty L. Enoch (nee Nick), 96 of Aurora, passed away surrounded with love on Friday, June 19th, 2026, at Bickford of Aurora. Betty was born in Bremen, Indiana on April 1st, 1930, attended Central High School in South Bend, Indiana and married her high school sweetheart, Gerald L. “Bud” Enoch on July 3rd, 1948 at United Brethren Church in South Bend. They shared 66 years of marriage until his passing in 2014. Always supportive of Bud’s endeavors, the family moved to Oakwood, Illinois in 1964 and settled in Aurora, Illinois in 1967.

As a young mother, Betty was supportive and active with the kids sports and activities, serving as school room mother and in the PTA. That support continued, encouraging her children to follow their dreams and then watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren do the same.

Betty went on to own two restaurants, The Cabaret in Hinckley, Illinois where she was known for her delicious Beer Battered Fish Frys and very special coleslaw. Then the Cock-A-Doodle Family Restaurant in Plano, Illinois, where she mentored many teens who worked for her, many calling her “Mom”. Her mouth watering broasted chicken and Italian beef are still talked about. Some recipes though were just too special to share and were kept for family only. Her legendary spaghetti sauce comes to mind. She took great pride in always having a home cooked meal on the table for her family.

In the early 80's, in anticipation of retirement the restaurant was sold and the Lake Holiday adventure began. Bud and Betty bought a cottage there, expanded and expanded it into a charming retreat. Family was always welcome and seemed to always be around, enjoying swimming, boating, skiing, tubing, fishing, snowmobiling, playing bags and ladder ball, searching for falling stars and just being close to nature. Betty was an amazing cook who had a remarkable knack for cooking for a crowd, even when she didn’t know a crowd was coming. She could make it stretch and no one ever walked away hungry. If she thought you weren’t eating enough, “What’s a matter? Don’t you like it?” would always be heard.

Around this same time Bud & Betty began trips to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. Those trips became longer and longer, eventually becoming snowbirds. Sharing their beautiful spot on the Gulf beach with family and their many snowbird friends gave them great pleasure. Betty loved to walk the beach searching for shells, boating and fishing with Bud, going on jet ski adventures and toasting the sunsets.

Betty was a spunky, fun, funny, loving, caring, hardworking woman, who loved to dance with her forever love, Bud. Often the center of attention at family weddings, dancing the Jitter Bug or in more quiet moments, in the kitchen, just the two of them. She kept an immaculate home, enjoyed gardening and flowers and had a beautifully landscaped yard that she spent countless hours in. She also enjoyed bowling on her ladies team, eating ice cream (but only one scoop) and sweeping.... everything!!! But she enjoyed nothing more than a baby in her arms, family time spent with the kids, grandkids and great-grands and was known for putting on epic Christmas celebrations.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Vendetta and Iris (Kuntz) Nick, her siblings John, Jack, Robert, Arnold Gene, Mary Ellen and June, her husband Gerald Lee “Bud” Enoch, her son’s Mark Owen and Martin Gene, her son-in-law Randall W. “Randy” Rogers, her daughters-in-law Dawn Marie and Patricia A. “Patti”, her grandson Phillip M. Enoch and her sister-in-laws, Martha Probst (the late “Bob”), Reva Sumpter (the late “Bob”) and Jeanette Hutchings (the late “Red”)..

Betty is survived by her sons, Monte of Naples, Florida, Michael (Carol) of DeKalb, Illinois and Matthew of Serena, Illinois, her daughter, Merri Christine Enoch-Rogers of Bristol, Illinois; grandchildren, Michelle, Monte, Shawn, Brook, Andrew, Tommy, Wesley, Benjamin, Nicholas, Brittany, Joseph, Jonathon and Savannah and 15 great-grandchildren. Betty is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sue Sigrist (the late Dale), her brother-in-law, Ned Enoch (Esther), her sister, Martha Stutsman and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 9-11am on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Beverage Family Funeral Home, 104 Terry St. Sandwich, Illinois 60548. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am at the funeral home with interment to follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Sandwich, Illinois. Memorials can be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family would like to mention a special thank you for the loving care given to Betty by the amazing staff in the Mary B’s Memory Care Unit of Bickford of Aurora and by Angels Grace Hospice.