Elizabeth H. Hessburg

Elizabeth "Betsy" Hessburg died at home Sunday, April 13,2025. She was born to George and Elizabeth Haupt July 11,1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was the second of 3 children. She attended St Monica's grade school and Whitefish Bay High School. She then attended Mount Mary University for 2 years and St Louis University for 2 years graduating with a degree in Social Work. She was employed at the Hospital for Mental Diseases in Milwaukee where she met a young medical student named Philip Hessburg. He asked a male friend that she often lunched with if he was going to marry her. When he said he was not, Phil said he was and they were engaged a month later. And so began a 69 year love story. They married and moved to Detroit where he interned at Henry Ford Hospital. Betsy worked at Herman Kieffer Hospital until their first child was born. She had 5 children in 7 years and devoted the rest of her life to her husband and children. She was an avid reader throughout her lifetime with a special interest in World War II history which touched all families of her generation.
In the last 2 decades, she could periodically be seen wearing a t-shirt that read: "My next husband will be normal." It was a visual indicator of the humor and love she and Phil shared. Phil was not "normal". He worked tirelessly in his professional work as an Ophthalmologist, teacher/mentor, researcher, "tinkerer" and friend. She supported him throughout many ups and downs always with laughter and love. They traveled the world together with shared interests in art, theatre, literature, food, hockey and, of course, their children and grandchildren.
Betsy was a member of St Clare of Montefalco church for 59 years and all 5 children attended St Clare grade school.
She is survived by her sister, Sr Marie Judith; her children Mary Star ( Craig), Tom, John (TJ), Soozi (Tim); her grandchildren, Annie, Chris, Sam, Philip, Frank ( Loren), Tom (Moriah), Daniel, Maria, Tommy, Mary Clare, Jack (Benny), Joseph ( Cat), Luke (Kienne), Matthew, Carly (Patrick), Lilly, and Abigail; and 5 great grandchildren, Presley, Harlynn, Everly, Ford and Hadley. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Philip Hessburg, her brother George Haupt and son, Daniel.
Funeral mass will take place at 11:00 Monday, April 21,2025 at St Clare of Montefalco Church. Visitation begins at 10:00.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to henryford.com - Make A Gift - Direct gift to : Philip C. Hessburg MD Endowed Lectureship