Elizabeth (McHugh) Vitaliano

Surrounded by her loved ones, Elizabeth “Betty” (McHugh) Vitaliano passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter Beth,  Bloomsburg,  on the evening of Wednesday, January 15, 2025.  She and her husband resided there the last ten years.

Born on January 28, 1936 in Hazleton,  Betty was the daughter of the late James and Margaret (O’Donnell) McHugh.

Betty was an honors graduate of Hazleton High School. Upon graduation, she was employed as a supervisor at Bell Telephone in Philadelphia. She later returned to Hazleton, where she met her future husband, John F. Vitaliano.

Betty and John were married at St. Gabriel’s Church in Hazleton in 1966. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Vitaliano Tesone, born in 1977. Until her retirement she was a medical secretary at Job Corps in Drums, PA.

Betty was an avid reader and a great debater. She was known for her quick wit and sharp sense of humor. After retiring, she enjoyed brunches, shopping, and sitting on her daughter’s deck in the evenings. A fabulous story teller, Betty will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her siblings, Joseph McHugh, John McHugh and wife Ann Marie, and Mary McHugh Arundell and husband Frank, and sister-in-law Linda McHugh.

Betty leaves behind her loving and devoted husband, John, and her daughter Beth and companion Kevin Kennedy.

Betty is also survived by her brother James McHugh and spouse Dorothy, Tamaqua,  brother Daniel McHugh, Philadelphia, brother Edward McHugh and spouse Leslie, York, sister-in-law Judie McHugh, Hazleton, sister-in-law Marianne Vitaliano, Mountaintop, granddaughter Sarah Beechay and spouse Tom Youngans,  granddaughter Katie Beechay Eyerly and spouse Stephen, as well as many loved nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Saturday January 25, 2025 at Queen of Heaven Parish at Our Lady of Grace Church, 750 N. Vine St., Hazleton, PA 18201.

Prior to the mass, Betty's family will receive friends at the church from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.

Interment, to be held privately at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery, Hazleton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Betty may be made to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Memorial donations may also be made to Animal Resource Center of Columbia County, 80 Hog’s Back Rd., Millville, PA 17846.

Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home, 532 N. Vine St., Hazleton, PA 18201.

To leave a sympathy message or for more information, please visit the funeral home website at www.conahanfuneral.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth (McHugh) Vitaliano, please visit our floral store.