Elizabeth 'Betty' (Miske) Smereczniak

It is with great sadness that our beloved mom, Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Miske Smereczniak, went home to Jesus on Friday, February 21, 2020 at the age of 93.  Betty as she was known to all was born May 12, 1926 in Brownsville, daughter of the late Peter Benjamin and Mary Ann Harrison Miske.  Some know her as she liked to be called Betty Boop.  A resident of Belle Vernon, Mrs. Smereczniak was a lifelong member of St. Sebastian R.C. Church.  Her involvement with her church resulted in many years as a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, was 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, worldwide marriage encounter leader, served as a Eucharistic Minister in church and for the homebound, Church CCD teacher, children’s liturgy and vacation bible school.  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 also 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 & son in law Mary Beth & Thomas DeMillion of Upper St. Clair; three sons & daughters in law David & Jerilyn Smereczniak of Clarksville, Richard & Mary Smereczniak of Belle Vernon, Mark Anthony & Lisa Smereczniak of Sterling, VA: eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a brother Thomas Bakaitus of Monongahela.

She is preceded in death by her husband Afton Smereczniak with whom she was married for 70 years, son Thomas Peter Smereczniak, infant daughter Janice Marie Smereczniak; sister Patricia L. Bakaitus

Visitation will be held Monday from 9-10:30 am at the Parzynski Funeral Home & Cremations LLC, Family Owned and Operated, 626 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon 724-929-6183 followed by Prayers of Transfer at 10:30 am in the funeral home followed by funeral mass at 11:00 am at St. Sebastian R.C. 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 1301N. Main St. PO Box 300 Chamberlain SD 57325, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital PO Box 1000 Dept. 142 Memphis TN 38148-0142 or to Mt. Macrina Manor, Uniontown.