Betty Joan Wiesen Hockey

Betty Joan Wiesen Hockey, age 93, of Fenton, passed away on July 2, 2025, after a brief illness. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. A family funeral mass will be held on July 8, 2025 at St. John’s Chapel in memory of Betty.

Betty was born on February 17, 1932, in Flint, Michigan, to Herman D. and Elizabeth (Downey) Young. She was a graduate of Saint Matthew’s Catholic High School in Flint. A devoted member of both St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, Betty’s faith was a guiding force in her life.

A tireless worker and loving mother, Betty raised her six children independently while holding a variety of jobs over the years, including furniture sales, childcare, and factory work. On October 1, 1976, she married her second husband, Eugene Hockey. Together, they cherished their time in AuGres—enjoying smelt fishing, snowmobiling, and winter escapes to Florida.

In her later years, Betty enjoyed mini-trips to casinos and other outings with her close-knit group of friends, the “Golden Girls.” She loved going on walks with her dog, spending time with family—especially during the holidays—and living life with passion and grit. Known for her undeniable will and iron constitution, Betty delighted in family dinners and having a beer with her loved ones well into her later years. She often said her children were her life, and she lived that truth every day. She also had a profound love for animals, giving many of them a good and loving home over the years.

Betty was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her children: Mark (Heidi) Wiesen, Martha (Rick) Neal, Mary (Dale) Miller, Matthew (Trista) Wiesen, Monica Wiesen, and Melissa Nolkemper (Alex Gresock); her grandchildren: Stephanie, Madison, Skylar, Jessica, Jamie, Jenna, Elizabeth, Luke, Lorna, Travis, and Johnathan; eight great-grandchildren; her son-in-law Robert Nolkemper; many beloved nieces and nephews; and her “best girlfriend,” her loving dog Abby.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Elizabeth Young; her husband, Eugene Hockey; her former husband, Francis X. Wiesen; and her brothers, Herman D. Young and William McIntosh.

Online tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fenton Adopt-A-Pet