Geraldine (Keefer) Belusko

Geraldine "Betty" Belusko, 95 of Mechanicsville, passed away in the comfort of her home on Tuesday
Nov 11, 2025.  Born in Pottsville on November 25, 1929, she was the daughter of James O Keefer and
Marion R (Schell) Keefer. She was one of nine children. Betty graduated from Pottsville High School
Class of 1947. 
Following high school, she married John Pepper and lived in Pottsville where she worked in a box factory.
‘Bets” later married John Belusko and moved to Spring City where she worked as a seamstress at the
Valley Forge Flag Company. She was very proud to have sewn the US flag and always said hers may be
the one on the moon.
Betty was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Pottsville.  She was also active with the
Mechanicsville Ladies Auxiliary, the Mechanicsville Beneficial Assoc., and the Walter Griffiths Amvets
#180 Ladies Auxiliary.  
Betty enjoyed writing her life stories, poems and prayers. She deeply respected the American Flag and
the United States. Betty enjoyed karaoke, coffee (later in her life, tea), chocolate ice cream and painting
any surface that could be painted. Bets loved to dance and was always the first person on the dance
floor, often outlasting people ½ her age. Her favorite dance songs were Wipeout and New York New
York. If you have ever seen her kicking up her heels, you witnessed something special. In her youth, she
was known as the “Dancing Dolly,” modestly dancing to raise money for a fire truck at Greenwood Hill Fire
Co. She was very fond of being with her family at her mother’s house in Mechanicsville and at her home.
In addition to her parents, Betty is preceded in death by her first husband, John Pepper in 1983, John
Belushko in 2000, a daughter, Donna Davis in 2021, and 7 of her siblings Gladys (Glad) Carroll, John
Keefer, Anna Keefer, Jane (Jabe) McAnanney, Harry (Hit) Keefer, Donald (Don) Keefer, and Sue Moyer
She is survived by a daughter, Jane Ann Pepper, Port Carbon
Grandchildren: Janel Hirsch and husband, Matthew Hirsch, Anthony Chiccini, Liza Pepper, Clint and
Kevin Bracey (all of Pottsville).
Great grandson: Xander Hirsch (at Kutztown College)
Out of 9 children, Betty leaves just one sibling, a brother Dennis G Keefer Sr., Friedensburg.  
Donations can be sent to SACF (Donna and Ellsworth Davis scholarship).
At Betty’s request, there will be no services. Family will scatter her ashes so she can “be like the wind” at
three locations of her choosing including “the backyard where all of my brother’s and sister’s footprints
are.”