WESTFIELD – Mary Elizabeth Moriarty Hogan, of Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Westfield, Massachusetts, known to all as Betty, died on November 16, 2022. She was the beloved wife of Robert E. Hogan, Jr. and James S. Oleksak, Sr.
Betty graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy in 1946 and St. Joseph College with a degree in education in 1950. Betty taught in Wethersfield, Connecticut from 1950–1955 and was a reading specialist in Westfield, Massachusetts, for 28 years. Later, she was a reading tutor in Bradenton, Florida, for 12 years while she lived there during the schoolyear.
She bought her first computer, an Apple 2GS, in 1985 and remained up to date with technology all the way to the smart phone, iPad, and Windows 11. (With many thanks to Lauren Rokosz for help with designing bitmojis). She was active on social media and kept up with friends and family through posting and messages. She used her computer to create personalized cards, which she sent loved ones on all occasions. She was adventurous and independent, parasailing on her eightieth birthday, snowmobiling on her ninety-first, and kayaking in the marshes in her beloved Long Island Sound up until her last year.
Betty was a Jeopardy fan, and loved ones knew not to call her during an episode. She also enjoyed watching the local magazine news program Mass Appeal, which is hosted by her first husband’s nephew, Patrick Berry, who always gave her a shout-out on her birthday.
Betty was former Secretary of Hampton County Teachers Association and Board Member of the Pioneer Valley Reading Association. She was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Westfield and was in the first class of Eucharistic Ministers for St. Mary’s.
Betty was especially grateful for the kindness and generosity of her son Bob, who took care of her every need and allowed her to live comfortably in her home during the last few years. He was her caretaker, a chauffeur for her and her friends, her wingman.
Betty is survived by her devoted and caring children, Jim, Mary, and Bob; granddaughter Christine Hogan and fiancé Mike Gage; stepchildren James (Dale) Oleksak, Jr., Stephen (Susan) Oleksak, Nancy (Edward) Morin, Christine Byrne, and Michael (Rita) Oleksak; 14 step grandchildren; and 25 step-great-grandchildren. She also leaves a sister-in-law, Jane Berry, a dear cousin, Nancy Hild, and many beloved nieces and nephews, including two special nieces, Dr. Anne M. Reiher and M.J. Moriarty. She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Ethel Hynes Moriarty; brother William Moriarty; and two beloved husbands, Robert E. Hogan, Jr. and James S. Oleksak, Sr.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, November 26 at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s, Westfield. Burial will be private. No flowers please. In Betty’s memory, send donations to St. Vincent DePaul Society c/o St. Mary’s Parish, 30 Bartlett St., Westfield, MA 01085 or a charity of one’s choice. Many thanks to Father John Tuohey and his mother Ursula for their calls, visits and friendship as well as to UCONN Center for Healthy Aging for their kind and compassionate primary care.
