Elizabeth J. “Betty” Gerko, age 71, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Messiah Village, Mechanicsburg, with her loving family by her side. Born April 3, 1941 in Beaverdale, she was a daughter of the late Stephen G. and Elizabeth T. (Barbarich) Gerko. In addition to her parents her nephew Matthew Gerko preceded her in death.
She was a graduate of Beaverdale-Wilmore High School and the University of Pittsburgh. Betty started her teaching career at St. Michael Elementary School; taught on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Mesa Verde, AZ; Johnson Air Force Base, Japan and retired from Southern York County School District where she taught at Southern Elementary; Southern Middle; and Friendship Elementary Schools. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, York; Delta Kappa Gamma International; Beta Beta Teaching Sorority and a lifelong member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Beaverdale. She was a dedicated volunteer with the Martin Memorial Library, York and loved being a Kitchen Volunteer at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Festival.
Betty loved reading, flower arranging and being outside in the beauty of nature. She was extremely proud of her Slovak heritage, making several trips to Slovakia to visit the area of her family roots. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, Germany, France, Italy, England, Japan and the Far East.
Surviving are her siblings, Stephen Gerko and wife Loretta of Johnstown, Peter of Texas, B. Monica Malpezzi and husband Michael of Mechanicsburg and Mary Lambert and husband David of Harrisburg. Betty was a doting aunt to many loving nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
There will be a viewing from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday July 24, at Malpezzi Funeral Home, 8 Market Plaza Way, Mechanicsburg where there will be a prayer service and time of remembrance at 7:00 p.m. There will also be a viewing from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Kinley Funeral Home, Beaverdale. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Bedford Street, Geistown. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Beaverdale.
Memorial contributions may be made to York Memorial Library, 159 E. Market St., York, PA 17401 or Beaverdale Public Library, PO Box 606, Beaverdale, PA 15921.
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