PLATTSBURGH Mary Elizabeth (Betty), nee Piszka, O'Leary of Plattsburgh passed away peacefully at her home on September 11, 2023.  She was born on May 6, 1934, the daughter of George and Mary Piszka of New York, New York.  Betty was raised with her extended family, including her parents and paternal grandparents, Uri and Maria Piszka who had arrived from Slovakia in the 1880's.  Her north Harlem neighborhood was a true melting pot inhabited by successive generations of immigrants that exposed her to a variety of cultures.  From her grandparents she learned directly that the United States is the best country in the world where hard work and honesty is enough to allow someone to make a good life for themselves.

As with most people who were raised during the Great Depression and World War 2, Betty's view of the world was shaped by these titanic events in modern world history.  She saw the heartrending human suffering of loss on the news and in her neighbors.  For her the response was the development of deep empathy and an impulse toward justice. Those who knew Betty well saw her empathy and desire for just solutions.

She graduated from George Washington High School in NYC at the age of 16 after which she enrolled in the City College of New York.  This was free to all who could pass the rigorous entrance examination and thus was the only school her working class family could afford.  While at City College Betty met her future husband, John O'Leary.  They were married shortly after graduation.  She then enrolled in SUNY Albany where she earned a master's degree in School Counseling.  Betty and her family moved to Plattsburgh in 1965.  She spent her first few years in Plattsburgh raising her four children and then returned to work as a high school guidance counselor at St. John's High School.  Following her career at St. John's, she moved to Clinton Community College.  Her initial duties were as the registrar but her desire to have direct student contact led her to transfer to the Counseling Department.  She remained in the Counseling department for several decades, retiring from her Director of Counseling position in 1991. She was a fantastic person and made so many folk's lives the richer for having known her.

After retiring from Clinton Community College, Betty missed the interaction with students, their families, the faculty and the staff and returned to employment as an experienced and outstanding professional in several area organizations including the Plattsburgh Crisis Center and SUNY Plattsburgh.  At last count, she had 4 distinct retirement parties.

In her early 70's, she returned to her grandparent's native country, Slovakia, and taught English as a Second Language to high school students and employees in local industry for 2.5 years. Connecting with her roots was a hobby of hers.  She found the Slovakian people to be incredibly gracious and when she was not at work teaching English, she enjoyed recruiting a local resident who would help her explore the small villages where her grandparents had lived and the fields they farmed.

Betty loved to travel and traveled to many places around the USA and the world.  Her daughter-in-law, Elaine, is the family travel agent/MD who arranged many of her wonderful travel adventures.  One year saw an extended family trip to Greece to visit the Greek Isles.  Mom loved the ancient artifacts and ancient historical sites as much as the neighborhood flea markets.  She enjoyed digging for treasure anywhere. Another year saw her on a cruise with most of her extended family to visit Alaska. She was thrilled to watch bears fishing for salmon in the Alaskan rivers.  Her most recent travel adventure was with her son Brian.  They went on a photo safari to Africa where she was able to see the big five of the African savanna – lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and Cape buffalo.  She took joy in recalling her travels for the rest of her life.

Betty is survived by her son Brian and daughter-in-law Elaine Cheng, her daughter Kim and her son-in-law Geoff Yokum and her daughter Kenna; grandchildren John Cheng O'Leary and James Cheng O'Leary; nieces Emily Cheng, Karen O'Leary and Donna Kirchstetter; nephews Kevin (Gail) O'Leary, Bobby O'Leary, and Jim (Mary) O'Leary; Special friends Sherry McKee and Anita Bonville. Betty was predeceased by her parents, her husband John, her daughter Thea and her nephew Jerry O'Leary

We would like to thank the North Country Hospice for all of their attention and kindness to our mom.  Ashley, Heather, Katie, Sue, Sister MaryAnn, Becky, Heather, Emily, Abi and Jackie were all incredible.  Thank you again.

Calling hours will be on Saturday, September 16th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the R. W. Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. Burial will be at a later date at Mount Carmel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations be made to an animal charity of your choice or Hospice of the North Country.

To share a memory or condolence with the family, please visit www.rwwalkerfh.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh, NY.