HUBBARD On Saturday January 3, 2015, Betty Jean Ksenich Petro Popio, whose strength and determination lasted her 89 years, was called upon by Our Lord Jesus Christ to receive her reward with Him in Heaven.
Betty Jean was born on July 24, 1925 in Lorain, OH, the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Banaski) Ksenich.
Betty Jean worked at the US Steel Shipyard in Lorain, where she was smitten by her first husband, Joseph John Petro of the US Coast Guard. Their marriage on June 23, 1945 lasted 23 years until his death in September 1968.
Betty Jean moved to the Youngstown area and as a young bride, raising a family, worked at Adler's Furniture Store on Youngstown's west side. She was employed by St. Elizabeth's Hospital in the nursing department and quickly took on the task of its first admitting supervisor and department head where she worked for nearly 30 years.
Her second husband, John Joseph Popio, whom she married on November 9, 1974, preceded her in death in April 1989.
She moved to the Hubbard area after her retirement to be closer to her children. Betty Jean was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Hubbard. She was a member of the Jednota/First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association. Betty Jean was proud of and enjoyed taking on the responsibility of Treasurer of the condominium association where she lived and also Treasurer of the Hubbard Senior Citizens where she was voted into that position by all who trusted and respected her for over 13 years, only leaving due to declining health.
Betty Jean was proud of her Slovak heritage and particularly enjoyed baking and cooking for her family. Her cabbage rolls and kolachi cannot be duplicated. She loved crocheting, Brazilian stitching and making elaborate sequined and beaded Christmas ornaments that she lovingly handed out to family members these past few months.
Betty Jean will be remembered by her children, Joseph (Marianne) Petro of Brimfield, Michael (Madalyn) Petro of Girard and Maribeth (Frank) Marafiote of Hubbard; her step-children, John "Jay" (Julie) Popio of Marysville, Janice (William) Wolfe of Chicago, IL and Michael (Martha) Popio of Boardman. She also leaves her grandchildren, Mary Jo (Jim) Mahood of Rootstown, OH, Teri Lynn (Carl) Lesniak of Hudson, OH, Kayla Marafiote (William Panning) and Gina Marafiote both of Hubbard; her step-grandchildren, Jeff (Heather) Popio of Powell, OH, Angela Wolfe of Chicago, IL, Duke (Meghann) Wolfe of Venetia, PA and Douglas (Ayleen) Wolfe of Coral Gables, FL, Michael, Celeste and Daniel Popio of Boardman and her great grandchildren, Jenna, Luke, Allison, Mya, Elise, John, John, Henry, Alfie and Lui, along with many nieces and nephews.
Betty Jean is also survived by her brother, Nicholas Ksenich, sister, Patricia Garrett, brother Joseph and sister-in-law, Donna Ksenich of Lorain and by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Eugene (Antonette) Calcagni of Poland and Norma Popio of Poland. She also leaves her special friends, John and Betty Raica, George and Beverly Ryan and Viola Telega of Hubbard.

Betty Jean is joining many loved ones who have gone before her and now to greet her, besides her husbands and parents, her sisters, Rosemary Ksenich and Mary Ellen Zilko.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Thursday at 11:30 AM at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Hubbard.
Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Kelley-Robb-Cummins Funeral Home and also on Thursday, one hour prior to the services from 10:30 to 11:30 AM at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church.
Betty Jean and her children respectfully request material tributes take the form of donations to the Kelley-Robb-Cummins Funeral Home which will be divided among her favorite charities.
Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Please visit www.krcummins.com to view this obituary and send condolences to the family,

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