Department of Sociology // University of Notre Dame

Archives: Obituary for Jeanine Becker

The Department of Sociology's Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award is named after Jeanine Becker.

Our Deepest Sympathies

Jeanine A. Becker, Ph.D. '94 Dec. 4, 1936--April 12, 1997

[Reprinted with permission from the South Bend Tribune, April 16, 1997]

Jeanine Becker Dr. Jeanine A. Becker, 60, of South Bend, Ind., died after an illness on Saturday, April 12, in her residence. She was born Dec. 4, 1936, in Mishawaka, Ind. and was a lifetime area resident.

She was a medical sociologist and was Co-ordinator of Community Affairs at Memorial Hospital.

On May 14, 1960, in St. Joseph Church in South Bend, she married John M. Becker, who survives. She is also survived by her daughter, Maria Lynn Becker of South Bend; a son, Michael and his wife, Kim Becker, of South Bend; two brothers and their wives, Charles and Joyce Nelson of Mishawaka and Donald and Diann Nelson of South Bend; four nieces and two nephews.

Her mother and father, Axel I. and Hilma (Anderson) Nelson, preceded her in death.

Dr. Becker began nurse's training at Memorial Hospital in 1955. She held a variety of administrative positions at Memorial, including Regional Director of Motherhood and Child Care Development. Dr. Becker earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame in 1994, and worked as an adjunct professor at Notre Dame.

She was elected vice-president of the Indiana Public Health Association and held a position at the State Level of the Public Health Association. She initiated the development and implementation of pastoral services at Memorial Hospital. Her working career was dedicated to nursing administration with Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Becker received the YWCA Woman of the Year Award in 1981, and was nominated as Woman of the Year again in the area of health services in 1997.

Visitation was held at Guisinger Colonial Chapel Funeral Home on Tuesday. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in South Bend. Burial was immediately following in Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County.