Elizabeth L. (Betty) Dombeck

Elizabeth L. (Betty) Dombeck, 99, of Wampum Borough entered into Eternal Rest on Monday, February 1, 2010, after a brief illness and aging infirmity. Betty was a resident of Avalon Nursing Center for the past five years. Betty was born on May 17, 1910, in Wampum to the late Anthony and Elizabeth Satar Ippolito. Betty was a member of the Queen of Heaven parish, St. Monica site and, most recently, Holy Redeemer Church in Ellwood City. Betty was a graduate of Wampum High School, class of 1928. On June 20, 1937, she was married to Joseph Dombeck of Ellwood City at St. Monica's Church. Betty and Joe moved to Wampum to live and raise a family. As a devout Catholic and parishioner of St. Monica's, Betty was a member and held offices in the Altar and Rosary Society, the Christian Mothers Guild, and was a CCD teacher for First Holy Communion classes for over twenty years. Living her faith on a daily basis, Betty was honored to be Godmother for several children and one adult. You would find Betty at every church devotion, mission, daily Mass during Lent, and at bizarres, fundraisers, and dinners open to members of the community. Betty belonged to five card clubs and enjoyed traveling via AARP bus tours.Betty was also a member of the Wampum Historical Society and Wampum Woman's Club. In civic involvement with her community, Betty served on the 164th Wampum Centennial in 1960, worked at election polls, and was elected as the Borough's tax collector from 1981-1988. Betty was also known for her wittiness and entertained her families through the years with amusing stories and antics. Betty was renowned for her apple and raisin pies with a melt-in-your-mouth pie crust. She enjoyed canning fruits and vegetables and relishes that she gave to others as Christmas gifts.

Of her immediate family, she is survived by her two children: Joseph Charles (Chuck) Dombeck and wife Grace of Wampum, and Dorothy Dombeck Maniccia and husband Anthony of Indiana, PA. She also leaves her six grandchildren: Mary Beth Dombeck, Janet Novad (Mike) of Bessemer; Jacquie McBride of New Castle; John Joseph Dombeck of Wampum; Edward Maniccia of Glen Allen VA; Stacey Maniccia Strong of Indiana, PA; and step-granddaughter, Heidi Sensky (Shawn) of New Castle. Her loving great-grandchildren, who affectionately called her “GiGi,” also survive: Megan McBride Presnar and David, and Ashley McBride, all of Pittsburgh; Casey Macek, Natalie and Eric Novad, all of Bessemer, Jocelyn, John Patrick and Austin Dombeck of Wampum; Stephen and Alison Maniccia of Summerville, SC; Peyton and Jenna Dunsmore and Dylan Strong of Indiana, PA; Shane, Cassandra and Megan Sensky of New Castle, and Kristina, Lauren and Joshua Gray of Chippewa. Betty also leaves her siblings: brother John Ippolito and sister Dorothy Ippolito Campbell (Glenn), all of Ellwood City; sister-in-laws Mary Jane (Sbarra) Ippolito of New Castle, Catherine Dombeck Hazen and Mafalda and Frank Dombeck, all of Ellwood City. Betty also leaves many nephews and nieces of the Ippolito and Dombeck families. Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, Joe on October 26, 2003, after 66 years of marriage, and her brothers Harrison, Anthony,Louis and Raymond Ippolito and sisters Mary E. Ippolito and Anna Ippolito Kwolek; her daughter-in-law C. Patricia Vlah Dombeck (1988); and three grandchildren: Joseph Charles Dombeck, Jr. (1961); Karen C. Maniccia (1968); Mark A. Maniccia (2004), and step-grandson Geoffrey Gray (1999).

Viewing will be held at the Marshall Funeral Home, Main St. Wampum on Wednesday, February 3 from 7-9 and Thursday, February 4 from 2-4 and 7-9. Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Redeemer parish in Ellwood City on Friday, February 5 at 10:30 A.M. with burial at Holy Redeemer Cemetery following. You may send condolences online at marshallsfh.com