Betty Jane Hlavac, 94, a resident of Swoyersville, passed into eternal life on Tuesday evening, June 24, 2025, in the comfort of her home with her family at her side.

Her beloved husband of 64 years was the late William G. “Bill” Hlavac who passed away on November 16, 2021.

Born on April 05, 1931, in Johnson City, New York, Betty was one of four children born to the late John Klym and Julia Piston Klym.

Raised in Johnson City, New York, Betty was a graduate of Johnson City High School, and, as a young girl, was a lead Ukrainian dancer at Saint John’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Prior to her retirement, Betty was employed as an accounts payable clerk for Nabisco, now Mondelez International, in the Hanover Industrial Park, Hanover Township.

Like her husband, retirement was not a word in Betty’s vocabulary and she continued working part-time as an usher at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre. She also volunteered at the Saint Vincent dePaul Kitchen, Wilkes-Barre, as well as with a literacy program in Wilkes-Barre, assisting adults with reading difficulties.

A woman of great faith, Betty was a longtime member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Holy Trinity Church, Swoyersville, where, for many years, she volunteered in the potato pancake stand at its annual bazaar.

Although Betty wasn’t a member of many organizations, her husband most definitely was and she was always willing to lend a helping hand with fundraising events for the Swoyersville Kiwanis Club, the Swoyersville American Legion and the Dante Club, Scranton, as well as assisting him during the time he served as a secretary for the Swoyersville Municipal Authority and on the Swoyersville Recreation Committee.

A woman of many enjoyments, Betty especially enjoyed bowling, going out for ice cream and trying her luck at casinos. Known for her love of animals, especially dogs, she rescued three dogs during her life named Monty, Cassie and Zeeko, and she treated each of them like royalty.

Family was everything to Betty. As an incredibly loving wife, mother and grandma, she took such pride in raising her five daughters and the years spent helping to raise her grandchildren – her grandchildren always loved being at “Camp Hlavac!” The love and devotion she had for her family will be her most lasting legacy.

The family wishes to extend their sincerest gratitude to the caregivers who assisted Betty during her time of need, most especially, Randi, Danielle, Mattie and Madeline. The family wishes to also extend their gratitude to their dear family friend, Cindy Katoski, for all she did for Betty, as well as Patricia Quinn from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish who came to administer Holy Communion every first Friday.

In addition to her parents, John and Julia Klym, and her husband, Bill, Betty was preceded in death by her sister, Julia Sadowitz; and her brothers, John and Eugene Klym.

Left to cherish her memory are her five daughters, Cheryl Hlavac Zuczek and her husband, Stan, Port St. Lucie, Florida; Nancy Donahue and her husband, George, Shavertown; Marybeth Hlavac, Horsham; Tina Mayerski and her husband, Joseph P., Pringle; and JulieAnne Hlavac Bruno and her husband, Joseph M., Flourtown; her five grandchildren, Jeffrey Zuczek and his wife, Chantal; William Joseph Bruno; Sabrina Elizabeth Bruno; Jeremy Joseph Mayerski; and Joshua William Mayerski; her two great-grandchildren, Carlie and Ellie Chan-Zuczek; as well as generations of nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a closed casket visitation on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, where her funeral service will begin at 10:00 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 AM in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville. The Reverend Father Joseph J. Pisaneschi, will be the celebrant.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Cemetery, Swoyersville.

To share a memory of Betty or message of condolence with her family, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

Memorial contributions may be made in Betty’s memory to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, PA 18704 or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

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