Elizabeth "Betty" Rita (Martonis) Polaschik

95, of Greenbelt, Maryland, passed away Sunday afternoon at the Loudoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Leesburg, Virginia.

Born in Highland, Pennsylvania, Betty was the daughter of Peter and Eva (Czeglis) Martonis. Her parents emigrated from Lithuania to Northeastern Pennsylvania in the early 1900s. Peter was a coal miner in the anthracite coal region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Betty attended  Foster Township High School in Freeland, PA and received her certification as a registered nurse from Sacred Heart Nursing School in Allentown, PA  in 1940.

In 1945, she married her hometown sweetheart, Steve Polaschik, in Gulfport Mississippi. Betty and Steve moved to Greenbelt in 1947 where they lived together until his death in 1986.

Betty began her career as a registered nurse at Prince George's General Hospital in the late 1940s where she worked for over 30 years. For a number of years, Betty also worked as a nurse at the Greenbelt Nursing Home. She was active with the Greenbelt Senior Center. After retirement, Betty continued to assist friends and family as a nurse for the rest of her life. Betty was a longstanding member of St. Hugh's of Grenoble Catholic Church in Greenbelt. She was an avid gardener at her home in Greenbelt. Alongside her beloved husband Steve, Betty loved the Greenbelt community and all the wonderful residents whom she referred to as her neighbors.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stephen Polaschik; a brother, Vincent Martonis; sisters, Veronika Martonis, Mary (Martonis) Stefan, Helen (Martonis) Shigo, Anne (Martonis) Lowery, Evelyn (Martonis) Yaruso and Julia (Martonis) Miglas.

She is survived by her sister, Victoria (Martonis) Soika, of Manville, NJ; daughters, Rita Jean Williams and her husband Michael Williams of Hamilton, VA, Elizabeth Ann Smith and her husband Norman Smith of Olney, MD; grandchildren, Kevin Peter Geren Williams of White Plains, NY, Maria S. Williams of Palm Coast, FL, Milisa Kristine Rollins and husband David Rollins of Adamstown, MD, Kristopher Brandon Smith and Wife Rachel Smith of New Market, MD; three great grandchildren and many beloved nephews and nieces.