Betty Jean Bo to be honored as Catholic 'Bright Light'

The late Betty Jean Bo, who devoted her life to helping St. Anne's Catholic Church and the Stockton Diocese, will be one of five people honored for their deeds in October.

Bo, who died on April 18 at her Acampo home at the age of 65, has been named one of five "Bright Lights" who will be awarded at the seventh annual Bishop's Awards Dinner on Oct. 11 in Modesto. She will posthumously receive the Life of Faithful Service Award.

"The 2008 Bishop's Awards Dinner will celebrate the humanitarian work being done every day by Catholics in our diocese," Bishop Stephen Blaire said in a written statement. "Their lives embody the concepts of charity and social justice and are shining examples of faith, courage and service to God and community."

Bo was active in several ways at St. Anne's and with the diocese.

"She was involved with the parish, leading a Christian life," said her husband, Don Bo, a deacon at St. Anne's. "She was a Eucharist minister and a rector."

Betty Jean Bo also helped start St. Anne's Social Justice Committee about two years ago, and she was a member of the deaconate board of the Stockton Diocese.

"Health care was very important to her," her husband said.

Bishop's Awards Dinner

Betty Jean Bo and four others from the Stockton Diocese will be honored as "Bright Lights" on Oct. 11 at Our Lady of Fatima, 505 W. Granger Ave., Modesto. Cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 and the recognition program.

In addition to Bo, honorees will include Mike De Toro of Church of the Presentation in Stockton, Sister Christina Doona from Sacred Heart Parish in Turlock, Roberto Sepulveda from St. Anthony of Padua Parish of Manteca and Hugh and Joan Hart from St. Joseph Parish in Modesto.

Tickets are $150, with proceeds to benefit Catholic Charities, a private network of social service organizations to support families, reduce poverty and build communities. The dinner will also benefit SEEDS, which provides tuition assistant to students who otherwise could not afford a Catholic education.

The event is open to people of all faiths. For more information, call Charleen Plappert at 472-1008, extension 11.

Source: Stockton Diocese

Doctors and nurses in the parish will become a part of the Social Justice nursing program. They will be able to advise and educate people about medical issues, he said.

As a deaconate board member, Betty Jean Bo reviewed polices, training and issues related to deacons and deacon candidates, according to diocese spokeswoman Sister Terry Davis.

She was also involved in "Eyes Wide Open," a touring Quaker exhibit that displayed shoes and boots, one pair for each person killed in Iraq. Betty Jean Bo set up a boot when the tour came to Sacramento.

Born in New Orleans, La., Betty Jean Bo was adopted by a family in Martinez and grew up in Concord, her husband said. She and her husband moved to the Lodi area in 1972. They were married 47 years.

Betty Jean Bo had several jobs. She was a certified nurse's assistant, was a school bus driver and a cannery worker, her husband said.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

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