Betty Fertitta Kubala was born March 14, 1935, to Concetta Glorioso Fertitta and Thomas Anthony Fertitta, in Galveston, Texas.

She attended school at St. Anthony School in Beaumont and at Dominican High School in Galveston, where she graduated as Valedictorian of her class. Betty attended Loyola University in New Orleans and Lamar Technology College in Beaumont.  She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and a runner-up for homecoming queen. In 1957, she received her Bachelors Degree in Science.

On February 15, 1958 she married Mark Kubala at St. Patrick’s Church, in Galveston, Texas.  She worked in the field of medical technology the first 8 years of their marriage, supporting her husband while in his training, and also at the same time having four children. Tom was born at Hermann Hospital, Houston, where Mark was training in 1959. Mark II was born at Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Base, San Antonio, where Mark was serving as Captain in the Department of Neurosurgery in 1961. Dan was born in 1963 at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where Mark was doing a Fellowship. Ann was born in 1969 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth after the couple had moved to Beaumont in 1966 where Mark began his practice in Neurosurgery.

Betty was a devoted wife and mother. She was active in both the P.T.A. and Parish Council at St. Anne Church. She served as Chief Frito Pie Cook when her sons played baseball for the West End Little League. Betty was the first President of the reorganized Kelly Foundation. She was an early Treasurer for Some Other Place and served on the Board for many years. Betty was active in both St. Anne’s and St. Jude’s Ladies Clubs. When her cousin Monsignor Salvador Culotta retired from St. Jude Parish, the Kubala’s joined St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica. She and Mark served as Chairs for the St. Anthony’s Bishop’s Faith Appeal for 2009-2010, then Chairs of the Beaumont  Diocesan Faith Appeal in 2010-2011. Betty served several years on St. Anthony’s School Foundation Board. She is a Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, whose purpose is to preserve Christian sacred sites and churches in the Holy Land.  She is president of the Beaumont Sewing Club.

Betty is best remembered for the positive manner in which she handled multiple illnesses and health challenges, including breast cancer, a massive brain hemorrhage, multiple operations and multiple strokes. She never complained or let it diminish her positive attitude and always used her experiences to comfort others.

Survivors include her husband of fifty-five years, Dr. Mark Kubala of Beaumont; sons, Tom Kubala; Mark Kubala II and his wife, Carrie; and Dan Kubala and his wife, Mary, all of Austin; daughter, Ann Kubala of Beaumont; grandchildren, Robbie Kubala of New York, New York; Daniel Kubala of Providence, Rhode Island; Aaron Kubala of Boston, Massachusetts; Kate Kubala of San Antonio; Nick Kubala, Faith Kubala and Eve Kubala, all of Austin; brother, Anthony Fertitta, Sr. and his wife, Mary of Dallas; and sister, Sharon Fertitta and her spouse Aileen Friedman of Milford, Connecticut. Extended family, JoLynne and Montie Morgan of Beaumont, and their son Charles Morgan and his wife, Jessica, of Menlo Park, California; Liz Fertitta of Las Vegas, Nevada; and Roseanne Fertitta, and her daughter, Marie Fertitta-Walker of Houston.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Rose Ann Fertitta; and brother-in-law Charles J. Fertitta, Jr.

The family wishes to acknowledge and extend sincere appreciation to those who provided not only excellent personal care but loving devotion to Betty as well. These include all the physicians, especially Betty’s personal physician Dr. Mark Toups, all the nurses, physical therapists and especially her caregivers Lucy Bensurto, Mina Foust and Linda Wilkes.

A Rosary for Betty Kubala will be recited at 4:00 p.m., followed by visitation, with a Christian Vigil at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, November 24, 2013, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 25, 2013, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas, 2780 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, Texas 77706; Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; or Betty Kubala Scholarship in Nursing, Lamar University Foundation, P.O. Box 11500, Beaumont, Texas 77710.