Betty Jane (McCutchen) Gasper

Betty Jane Gasper, 76, of Sugarloaf in the Conyngham Borough, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, August 2, 2023, at Mountain City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Hazle Township.

Born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1947, Betty was the daughter of the late Frederic and Mary (Fink) McCutchen. Betty lived in Conyngham most of her life, moving from Narberth, PA, while in high school.

Betty graduated from West Hazleton High School and then matriculated at Bloomsburg University, where she graduated magna cum laude in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business education. She was proud to be one of the first women to complete many of the business-focused courses offered by the university.

Betty started her career as a business curriculum teacher in high schools in the Philadelphia area and at the McCann School of Business. After Betty returned to the Conyngham area, she became an accountant and earned her Certified Public Accounting license in 1985. She then founded and operated her own CPA firm for over 30 years, enabling her to balance her career goals with raising her two children. Betty also worked in various treasurer positions for the Conyngham/Sugarloaf Joint Municipal Authority.

Betty's passions were always community, education, and family.  She served decades as the treasurer of the board of directors of the Conyngham Borough Authority, and held numerous other community positions, including member of the Board of Directors and vice chairman of the Hazleton Chapter of the American Red Cross, treasurer of the Conyngham Borough Council, and active contributor to the Conyngham Valley Historical Society.

Later in her career, Betty returned to teaching as a faculty member at Luzerne County Community College, where she taught accounting courses to a new generation of students. In 2017, Betty established the Fink & McCutchen Family Scholarship at Bloomsburg University, which offers scholarships for well-deserving students to travel abroad (domestically or internationally) or take internships, to broaden their educational experiences.

But there was no greater example of Betty's commitment and caring than what she provided to her family. Betty dedicated herself to raising her two sons, later helping raise her granddaughter, and she extended her commitment and caring by always serving as a beloved role model (or confidante) to many of their friends and other family members.

Betty is survived by her two sons, Andrew Jacob Gasper (and his partner Ana Molina), New York, NY; and Matthew Joseph Gasper, Sugarloaf; granddaughter, Mary Alyce Gasper, Sugarloaf; four sisters, Mary Topolski, Conyngham; Susan Pimentel, Chalfont; Alice Donnelly, Narberth; and Beverly A. McCutchen, Conyngham; and many nieces and nephews that meant so much to her.

Her funeral will be private with interment in Conyngham Union Cemetery.  Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. (East), 669 W. Butler Drive, Drums, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Betty's scholarship fund, Fink & McCutchen Family Scholarship, at Bloomsburg University Foundation. Checks should be payable to "BUF" and sent to 50 E. Main St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815. You may also donate online at https://giving.bloomu.edu/make-a-gift with a designation to "Fink & McCutchen Family Scholarship".

Alternatively, for Conyngham residents, you may donate to the Conyngham Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 131, Conyngham, PA 18219.

Online condolences can be entered, and more information is available, at www.harmanfuneral.com.

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