Obituary

Elizabeth “Betsy” (Snover) Luther, 81, of Richland died peacefully surrounded by her loving family and friends on April 4, 2023.

Betsy was born on January 26, 1942, in Philadelphia to Harold and Martha (Harris) Snover. After graduating from Interboro High School, she studied nursing at Indiana Hospital School of Nursing. She trained as an RN in multiple specialties at hospitals in Maryland and Pennsylvania before starting her long career at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown.

While at Conemaugh, Betsy was regarded as a skilled oncology nurse and mentored many other people in the profession. She advocated strongly for compassionate care of patients with serious illness and dedicated the later years of her career to end-of-life care. She served as an advisor on the design of the Palliative Care Inpatient Unit at Conemaugh, where she was blessed to receive care in the final days of her life.

Betsy retired in 2007 to spend her time doting on her grandchildren, creating exquisite cross-stitch samplers, swimming, traveling, attending musicals and having adventures with her beloved friends Bonnie, Molly, Katie and Lydia. She was an avid Steelers, Pirates and Penguins fan and loved to go to games in Pittsburgh.

Betsy believed that the dying are still present, even when unresponsive, and to that end her family and friends spoke with her, laughed, played her favorite music and shared memories in her room until she departed.

Betsy is preceded in death by her father and mother. She is survived by her sons Joseph and John, grandchildren Miles, Maxwell, Theodore and Cassandra, sister Janet, brother Wayne and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held this summer on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Palliative Care Inpatient Unit at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and everyone at McCullough Place Senior Living Community for their kindness and care.