Betty L. (O'Koren) Opsasnick

Betty L. Opsasnick (O’Koren), of North Abington Township, PA, originally from Simpson, PA, passed away at age 90 on January 29th, 2025. Known in her younger days and to loved ones and friends as “Betty Lou” and to her grandchildren as “Baba,” she was born in 1934 to the late Mary and Frank O’Koren.

Betty’s legacy is one of love, dedication, and an extraordinary life filled with purpose. She met her late husband, Gene, while attending the University of Scranton; they married at St. Michael’s in Dunmore and enjoyed 58 happy years of marriage. They raised two children in the ranch house Gene designed and built by himself, with the help of an electrician and plumber. As they were together in life, they are together in death, having both passed on January 29th within the same hour, two years apart. Betty is survived by her two children, Eugene (Stephanie) of Cupertino, CA and Laura (Charles Venditti) of Potomac, MD; her brother Frank and his wife Linda, as well as cherished nieces, nephews and family members. Betty also leaves a legacy of six grandchildren— Alexis, Annika and Chet Opsasnick and Kara, Francesca and Livia Venditti — and one great-grandchild, Taylor Elizabeth Frager. Her family was her pride and joy, and she treasured every moment spent with them, showering them with love, wisdom, and homemade gifts.

Known for her brilliance, selflessness and humility, Betty was an exceptional and dedicated woman. She graduated as valedictorian of her class and dutifully went to work to help her family. She was a statistics instructor in the mechanical engineering department of a correspondence school and later on ran TATRA, her own real estate company. For 46 years, she also served her community as North Abington Township’s tax collector until age 88, stopping only due to orthopedic injury. Betty’s legacy of unwavering work ethic, honesty and dedication lives on through her children, her grandchildren, and all who were fortunate to know her.

Throughout her life, there wasn’t a skill Betty couldn’t master; she was a wonderful self-taught painter, seamstress, knitter, quilter, gardener, cook, and she kept her mind sharp with crosswords and Sudoku puzzles. As faithful Byzantine Catholics, Betty and Gene both sang in the choir for many years. Betty was a gifted singer and her voice, always clear and full of warmth, often guided the rest of the flock in prayerful song. The church was a central part of her life, and she cherished the sense of community and connection it provided.

In her quiet way, Betty taught all of us the importance of compassion, patience, and courage in the face of adversity. She believed in the beauty of hard work and in making a positive difference in the lives of others. Her passing leaves a void that can never be filled, but her spirit remains alive in the hearts of those who loved her. As the poet Wisława Szymborska wrote: “There’s no life / that couldn’t be immortal / if only for a moment.”

Divine Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 8th at 10:00 am at St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, E. Drinker St. in Dunmore. There is no public visitation. Interment will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty’s memory may be made to the ‘Education/Jane Weeks’ fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (dana-farber.org).

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