Betty Mary Malinchak, 91, of Monessen, passed away on Feb. 22, 2023, in the residence of Market Street Memory Care in Melbourne, Fla. Born Aug. 28, 1931, in Monessen, she was the daughter of the late Kelemen and Elizabeth Vereb Szabo. A lifelong resident of Monessen, Betty was a graduate of Monessen High School and a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Monessen. She was a homemaker, worked at the Monessen High School cafeteria and volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul. She was an avid fan of the Monessen High School Greyhounds, Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. Betty loved playing cards, bingo, slot machines and watching the Game Show Network. She was honored for 38 years of service by the National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges (NAWGJ), was affiliated with USA Gymnastics, WPIAL and the NCAA’s Atlantic 10 and East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Conferences. She had a National Gymnastics Rating for judging AAU gymnastics and cheerleading. Betty was a member of Slovak Gymnastics Union Sokol Lodge No. 47 and Order of the Eastern Star No. 205. She is survived by two sons, Walter M. “Wally” (Cindy Plantz) Malinchak of New York, James Malinchak of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughter, Cindy McLane (Jeff Van Duyn) of Palm Bay, Fla.; six grandchildren, Frank (Mandy Roberts) Pica, Thomas Pica and Michael (Amber Schultis) Pica of Baldwin, Timothy McLane of Tahlequa, Okla., James McLane of Melbourne, Fla., and Christina (Phil) Fogarty of New York; three great-granddaughters, Isabella and Madison Fogarty and Merlot Pica; one sister and brother-in-law, Nancy (Bob) Tyburski of Monessen; cousins and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Walter A. Malinchak, on April 15, 2006; daughter, Vicki J. Pica, in 1991; son-in-law, Frank Pica, in 2015; three brothers, Stephen “Reggie,” Joseph and James Szabo; and two sisters, Ethel Bachovchin and Margaret Bachuchin; and a lifelong friend and gymnastics judging partner, Martha Kunka of Belle Vernon. Friends will be received from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023, and at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2023, at RHOME FUNERAL HOME, 1209 Grand Blvd., Monessen. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 11 a.m. Saturday with Pastor Matthew Stabe officiating. Interment will follow at Mon Valley Memorial Park in Donora. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Monessen Center for Active Adults (Home Meal Deliveries).
