Betty Leresche was caring, loving and hardworking, a brave and articulate leader in her community, artistic and intuitive, and a loving, committed wife, mother and grandmother. She was beautiful inside and out.
Born to Albert and Gertrude Kling on April 22, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, Gertrude Elizabeth (“Betty”) Kling was the oldest of 9 children in her family. Betty was raised at Tenley Circle in Washington, DC., graduated from Immaculata High School and then Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. It was there at Georgetown that Betty met the love of her life, Louis Paul Leresche in their first week of school. She and Louis married on November 27, 1954, starting their dreams of a family together, first in Ft. Riley, Kansas with the US Army, then Richmond, VA where Betty worked as an RN while Louis attended dental school. By 1962, they returned to the DC area, settling in Vienna, VA where they had the last of their 7 children. The remainder of Betty’s 68 committed years together with Louis flew by quickly…
Betty was a leader in her family – the Matriarch – carrying the role as communicator, advisor and heart. For roughly 35 years she focused on raising her 7 children and making their home an open and loving space for bands of relatives and friends. Every gathering and holiday was special at the Leresche home. Betty then happily took on her role as committed grandmother, present in the lives of her 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was the last 30 years enjoying all of them in retirement at their home in Leonardtown, where holidays, birthdays and graduations were celebrated with the backdrop of the beautiful Potomac River.
Betty was a leader in her community, prominent in her church, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna, VA, and organizing efforts to build and serve the broader community. Betty made dinners for neighbors and friends in need, for decades served Meals on Wheels to the homebound, drove patients to doctor’s appointments and served with Community to Help Others (CHO). She was long a part of a loving group of women who shared their lives and dreams while creating stunning quilts for church members needing extra care. Betty served on the board of Catholic Charities to organize early refugee resettlement efforts, and responded to the call to sponsor families from the first wave of Vietnamese and Lao refugees who, for the better part of the next decade, lived with them and became part of their larger family. Together Betty and Lou volunteered in a refugee camp in Thailand and provided medical services to communities in St. Lucia. She regularly volunteered in the Leonardtown soup kitchen and the St. Mary’s County Red Cross. Betty was also a philanthropist, generously supporting numerous organizations and efforts, nationally and internationally.
Betty was an artist, avid reader and dedicated letter writer, always with care for others before herself. There is a world of grateful hearts for all Betty did so selflessly in her life. She is so cherished — and will be so missed.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Gertrude Kling, and 3 siblings, William Kling, Dan Kling and Roseanne Maguin, and her spouse of 68 years, Louis Paul Leresche. She is survived by 5 siblings, MaryLou Walsh, June Zuranski, Ray Kling, Nancy Biggin and John Kling, and 7 grown children, Peter J. Leresche, Stephen Leresche, Suzanne Leresche Walters, Michael Leresche, Elizabeth Leresche, Mary Leresche and David Leresche, 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Joseph Cwik on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady’s Catholic Church – Medleys Neck, 41348 Medleys Neck Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons: Peter Leresche, Marshall Leresche, Brennan Leresche, Tristen Leresche, Alex Walters, Jared Katuszonek, Dan Morris, Steven Morris, Jarrod Leresche, and Scotty Walters.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in Betty’s memory to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldsfuneral.com.
Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
