Elizabeth J. Menapace

Elizabeth J. “Betty” Menapace, 91 of Atlas passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, May 8, 2025 at The Birches, Shenandoah Senior Living Community.

Born in Oneida, New York on December 31, 1933, she was a daughter of the late Ulysses Grant Cox and the late Louise (Byron) Cox.

She was a 1951 graduate of Canastota High School, Canastota, NY. She was voted the friendliest senior on Class Day by the entire school!

Early in life, she was employed in New York as an operator for Bell Telephone. During that time, she met James P. “Jip” Menapace while he was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY. On October 29, 1955 at Saint Agatha’s Church in Canastota, NY the couple married and then returned to Pennsylvania to start and raise their family. They shared fifty-nine years together until Jip’s passing on December 4, 2014.

She was a member of Divine Redeemer Church, Mount Carmel.

Betty was extremely proud of her Irish heritage. She treasured the time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death in addition to her parents and her husband were one brother, Gerald Cox; and one sister, Patricia Cox.

Surviving are two sons, James Menapace of Bethlehem and Mark Menapace and his wife Diann of Wilburton; two daughters, Marianne Buccini and her husband James of Brecksville, Ohio and Patricia Menapace of Bloomsburg; five grandchildren, Christopher Menapace and his wife Mandy, James Buccini and his husband Joseph Blotz, Michela Buccini and her husband Todd Chamberlain, Mark Raymond Menapace and his wife Angela and Michael Andrew Menapace and his fiancé Emma Mangiaruga; eleven great-grandchildren, Charlie, Felix, twin girls, Raegan and Alexandra, Logan, Mason, Sophia, Devin, Dontay, Davyn and Llancel; and nieces and nephews with their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 11:00 am in Divine Redeemer Church, 300 West Ave., Mount Carmel with Rev. Bernard Wamayose, A. J., Pastor as the celebrant. Interment will follow in Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Beaverdale. All are invited to attend the Mass, there will be no visitation at the funeral home prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or at www.cancer.org. Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 S. Market Street., Mount Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz III, Supervisor has been entrusted with the arrangements. To offer condolences to Betty’s family, please sign the guestbook below.