Elizabeth Ann ‘Betty’ Miske Smereczniak
Belle Vernon
It is with great sadness that our beloved mom, Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Miske Smereczniak, went home to Jesus on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at the age of 93. Betty, as she was known to all, was born May 12, 1926, in Brownsville, a daughter of the late Peter Benjamin and Mary Ann Harrison Miske. Some may know she liked to be called “Betty Boop.” A resident of Belle Vernon, Mrs. Smereczniak was a lifelong member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church. Her involvement with her church resulted in many years as a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. She was also a charter member of the former Legion of Mary, charter member of the former Catholic Daughters of the Americas B.V. Court 1522, sacristan, former ladies guild and worldwide marriage encounter leader. She served as a Eucharistic minister in church and for the homebound, church CCD teacher, children’s liturgy and vacation Bible school teacher. Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, Jesus and the Blessed Mother Mary, which she shared with those who surrounded her. She enjoyed writing poetry and spending every day on her porch with her pet cat, Gotee, while saying her Rosary. Betty’s belief that she lived by was “the family that prays together stays together.” She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Mary Beth and Thomas DeMillion of Upper St. Clair; three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Jerilyn Smereczniak of Clarksville, Richard and Mary Smereczniak of Belle Vernon and Mark Anthony and Lisa Smereczniak of Sterling, Va.; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Thomas Bakaitus of Monongahela. She was preceded in death by her husband, Afton Smereczniak, to whom she was married for 70 years; a son, Thomas Peter Smereczniak; an infant daughter, Janice Marie Smereczniak; and a sister, Patricia L. Bakaitus. Visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME & CREMATIONS LLC, family owned and operated, 626 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, 724-929-6183, followed by Prayers of Transfer at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home. A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. at St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Joel Boco as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Betty to St. Joseph’s Indian School 1301 N. Main St., P.O. Box 300, Chamberlain SD 57325, to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 or to Mt. Macrina Manor, Uniontown. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website, www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.
