“I have had a wonderful life”. With these words of gratitude Sister Betty Blandford shares her amazing life story, beginning in Louisville’s West End and extending more than sixty years of service fulfilling the mission of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. 

Betty (Elizabeth Jane) Blandford was born in Louisville, Kentucky on February 23,1945, at the old Saints Mary and Elizabeth Hospital. Her parents were Mary Dorothy Medley and Charles Hubert Blandford, both from Washington County, Kentucky. Betty’s name might have been Charlotte except for the fact that her father was crossing the British Channel at the time of her birth and wrote back, “Name her Elizabeth in honor of the Princess”.

Charles Blandford had an important reminder as well for his children about their last name: “We are Blandfords with a ‘d’ in the middle. That stands for ‘dignity.’ Never drop it or forget it.”

Sister Betty Blandford with her mom and siblings
L-R: Sister Betty, Mom (Mary), Debra, and David

Betty spent her early years in the West End of Louisville. She had two younger siblings, David and Debra, although two other children had died at birth. Debra was eight years younger than Betty and became her “little baby”. Betty and David ran up and down the block telling everyone that they had a little sister. The three Blandford children remained close to one another throughout their lives. Now that David is deceased, Betty and Debra speak of him lovingly.

Betty remembers that her parents were always involved in parish activities, belonging to parent clubs and assisting in the parish whenever possible. The family moved to Algonquin Parkway where they were blessed with very fine next-door neighbors. “Mrs. Mack” was especially kind and helpful to Betty.

Betty attended St. Ann ‘s Catholic Elementary School, where she was very much involved in cheerleading, sports and other activities. The priests of the parish, Fathers William Brennan and Jim Flynn, were like members of the family and were greatly loved and respected. Father Flynn, especially through his concern for the poor and other social justice issues, impressed Betty and the other children as young as they were. It was he who convinced the parents of Betty and four other girls at St. Ann’s that, when they were ready for high school, they should go to Presentation Academy.

Betty entered Presentation Academy in 1959, and “I excelled there,” she says. A special memory is going to Notre Dame University for a Catholic Students Mission Crusade (CSMC) Conference, an eye-opening experience. Betty thinks it was probably the beginning of her vocational call. After graduation from Pres, Betty decided to enter the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. The summer of getting ready for the novitiate, as well as the September 1963 ride out to Nazareth, was difficult for both Betty and her family who had mixed emotions about her decision. Betty could not but wonder if it was the right one.

Sister Betty Blandford and her fellow novices. Sister Betty is second from the right, kneeling.

The three years of novitiate life were challenging, with the homesickness of visiting days being particularly difficult. Betty reflects, “No one in my family had ever been to college. I had little confidence that I could do it. Each semester we took 18 hours of classes, got up at 5:30 am to pray, did work in the laundry, and went to bed by 9:00. Excruciating schedule! Somehow, I succeeded!”

Sister Betty Blandford as a first year novice

July 19, 1966, was Betty’s First Vow Day. A truly significant and joyful day. Betty’s college classes during both novitiate and juniorate were in education. As difficult as the schedule was, she loved her very fine teachers and the classes she had. Three years of Spanish at Pres had prepared her for her Spanish study in college. In fact, the first story she ever wrote was in Spanish.

Sister Betty Blandford with Sister Eleanor Martin’s younger sister, still a dear friend, July 21, 1966

Shortly after her first vows, Betty experienced a memorable mission trip to Yazoo City and Belzoni, Mississippi. She taught summer Bible classes to the children there. Even though she had been involved in pro-integration marches in Louisville, what she experienced in Mississippi was different. “It changed my life,” she remembers.

The missionaries going to their new mission in Yazoo City, Mississippi
L-R: Sisters Sarah Jean (Sarah) Akin, Virginia Louise Stocker (St. Vincent Province Provincial), Mary Angeline (Marietta) Ash, Mary Caritas (Betty) Blandford, Rose Theresa (Jenny) Jeter, and Julia Ann Elder (St. Vincent Province Secretary and Treasurer)

Betty’s first assigned mission was to teach first grade at St. Andrew School in Roanoke, Virginia. This assignment would set a direction for Betty’s life that enabled her to serve God’s people for untold years to come. Her very kind and understanding principal at St. Andrew’s was Sister Sara Cecilia Bailey, who wisely encouraged Betty in her creative willingness “to think outside the box” in teaching small children.

The pastor, Father George Gormley, supported Betty when she decided not to take the first graders to Mass every day. She realized that they were too young to fully understand and appreciate the Mass. She did, however, arrange a space in the classroom, a small tepee, where a child could go alone for a time of quiet. Betty and the assistant pastor, Jack Miffleton, began to plan meaningful liturgies for children. He did the music; she did the stories. They created many children’s liturgies, which were published by World Library Company of Sacred Music. They also wrote and composed two books with accompanying records, entitled “Come Out” and “Even a Worm”. Later they had a book of Stations of the Cross for children and a text series called “You Are Invited”. World Library also had summer workshops all over the United States where Betty and Jack shared their work with children ‘s liturgies. Betty’s collaboration with World Library continued for several years with her giving parish council workshops in addition to her work with children’s liturgy. One request from World Library sent her to the Bahamas to train teachers working with children’s liturgy.

Betty Blandford and Jack Miffleton with first graders during the 1969-1970 school year. Sister Betty wrote the stories and Jack wrote the music for meaningful children’s liturgies. (Photo by J. Givens)

All the travel and new experiences meant much enrichment and growth for Betty. She also realized that writing was a skill and a gift she enjoyed. In 1972, Betty received a full scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, to get her Masters degree in Education. While there she lived in the SCN convent with twelve Sisters, all in different ministries.

After graduation Betty returned to Roanoke to direct a summer day camp for street kids, using all volunteers, many of them teachers and high school students. This was a wonderful experience for all involved.

Sister Betty Blandford posing with a red snapper and a grouper that she caught in Clearwater, Florida, July 1975

Betty’s next call was back in Kentucky where she helped develop a program for the Archdiocese of Louisville, out of Nazareth KY. Betty was asked to be a member of a team of four educators who served twelve parishes in the Archdiocese. They developed the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) whose purpose was to train parish volunteers for religious education.

Betty’s next mission was at St. Lawrence Parish, Louisville, where she was the Director of Religious Education (DRE). There the pastor was Father Bob Osborne, a kind, supportive parish leader and a good friend. He encouraged Betty to establish innovative programs and develop leadership within the parish. Working together they built a very strong parish council for which Betty planned special retreats.

Founders of the House of Ruth, a Louisville organization that provides housing and support to individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families
L-R standing: Sharon Cook, Sister Sharon Gray, Sharan Benton, and Sister Rebecca Miles
L-R seated: Sister Betty Blandford and Anne Bindner (Two founders not pictured: Sister Marilyn Spink and Liz Bindner. Source: House of Ruth website.)

Betty also had the opportunity while at St. Lawrence to go to Stuttgart, Germany for two weeks of presentations to parish workers in the US Army. This invitation came from Father Charles Bindner, an Army chaplain there and a of Betty’s friend Anne Lee Bindner. From St. Lawrence, Betty continued her work as a DRE at St. Barnabas.

Two years later she became the Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish where Father Bob Osborne was pastor. The parish was ready to grow. With Father Osborne’s encouragement, Betty led the parish in developing many adult programs, working closely with the parish council. Her ten years there were years of loving connection with the parishioners. Many close friendships were developed, and to this day, she is grateful for the growth taking place among them.

In 1990, came what Betty calls “a shock” in her life, her election as the Provincial of the SCN Louisville region. In addition to being present and of service to the Sisters within the region, Betty was also on the boards of various SCN ministries as well as a member of both the Executive Committee of the SCN Congregation and the Nazareth Literary and Benevolent Institution (NLBI), the Congregation’s primary legal body. This office also required travel to India and Belize. This leadership ministry was very life enriching but also challenging.

Sister Betty Blandford visiting with a mother and child in India during her time as Provincial of the Louisville Region

After this time of leadership ministry, Betty had a sabbatical year of rest and renewal. In the following years, she gave her gifts and shared her experience with three parishes in the Louisville Archdiocese, St. John Vianney, St. Jerome and once again, St. Barnabas. Betty was blessed, as were the parishes, to continue working for the growth of the local Church and the life-giving direction of Vatican II.

Roommates and friends Sisters Virginia Blair, Dorothy Wilson, and Betty Blandford (L-R)

Betty retired in 2015, continuing to live on Breckenridge Lane with Sisters Dorothy Wilson and Virginia Blair, her cherished local community for over twenty-five years. Eventually both Dorothy and Virginia moved to Nazareth. Then Sister Lisa Polega, a transfer Sister from Chicago, joined Betty in forming a new local community, leading to a growing friendship.

Sisters Lisa Polega and Betty Blandford, 2025 (L-R)

In 2016, Betty celebrated her fifty years as a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, “wonderful years” Betty is quick to add. Two years later Betty and Lisa moved to the SCN Apartments “on the hill” on Newburg Road in Louisville. There she has time to volunteer, to cook, stay involved as health allows, and be interested in the happenings of the SCN Community, the Church and the world.

Sister Betty Blandford posing with her Nazareth 5k medal

(Betty’s gifts have been blessings indeed for God’s people. As she looks back, Betty must be proud and grateful, as the SCN Community is, for the contribution she has made to the growth of the Church and the building up of God’s reign here on earth.)

Maria V. Brocato, SCN
September, 2025

Sister Betty Blandford

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