Bette Lenz - Obituary

ette C. Lenz, 88, a resident of Annapolis, died on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, at her home. Born on June 6, 1927, in Englewood, NJ to the late Harry and Della Beede, Bette was raised in Fort Lee, NJ. She was the granddaughter of the late Ernest and Della Abbott and the great-granddaughter of the late John C. Abbott, the first mayor of Fort Lee. Bette worked at the Arnold Constable Department Store in Hackensack, NJ and later with American Airlines in New York City. On August 16, 1947, she married John A. LaBuda and together they raised their two sons, Steven and Mark, in Middletown, NJ. Her husband, John, died on December 1, 1965. While vacationing in Grenada, West Indies in 1971 Bette met Heinz W. Lenz a professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1972, she moved to Annapolis, and she and Heinz married on November 4, 1973. Bette became very involved with the Naval Academy, volunteering at the visitor center gift shop, joining the Naval Academy Women's Club, the Gourmet Club, the Garden Club, sponsoring midshipmen and serving on various committees. She and Heinz loved to travel; Bette was a tour chaperone for AAA of MD. Together, they travelled to many different countries and states. She loved to go on vacations and cruises in Europe, the Far East, South America, Alaska, The Bahamas, West Indies and the Virgin Islands. She enjoyed going to the theater and volunteered with the Colonial Players in Annapolis. Bette also liked museums, flower arranging, taking classes in the arts and travel, and gourmet cooking. The pot roast dinner she prepared for birthdays will forever be missed by her family. Bette also enjoyed going to lunch with her friends and spending time with her family, especially her great-granddaughter Daelynn and having dinner on the boat with her son, Steve. Bette was preceded in death by her husband, Heinz in 2006, and daughter-in-law, Kate LaBuda in 2002. Bette is survived by her sons, Steven P. LaBuda of Annapolis, Mark (Kim) LaBuda of Edgewater, Mali (Hal) Bunce and Alan (Brooke) Lenz; her grandchildren, Tami and Steven A. (Melissa) LaBuda, Jamie (Sidney) and Jesse Bunce, Sydney, Elyse, David, Anna, Noah Lenz and her great-grandchildren, Daelynn Wolyn and Preston Bunce. A private memorial service was held at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium. Donations, in her memory, may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122 or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 9031, Pittsfield, MA 01202. Online condolences may be made by visiting the link on this page.