Elizabeth "Betsy" Pons-Stefanik

Elizabeth "Betsy" Pons-Stefanik Age 82, of Erie, PA passed into the presence of the Lord on December 23, 2024. Born February 24, 1942, in Wilmington, NC, she was the daughter of the late Aubrey Canover Pons and Elizabeth Glennie Briggs Pons.

Betsy was a graduate of Hanover High School in Wilmington, NC and the University of South Carolina. She spent five years teaching second grade in Alaska before settling in Spokane, WA, to raise her family. She later lived in Murrysville, PA, and Lake Wylie, SC, before calling Erie home.

Known for her adventurous spirit, Betsy drove with her sister from Wilmington, NC to Anchorage, AK in 1964, a journey marked by an absence of cell phones, GPS, and advanced hotel reservations. She embraced life’s adventures, including raising animals—chickens, horses, cows, dogs, and cats—and loved camping, gardening, and traveling.

Her faith in God was central to her life, and she regularly attended church, with a particular love for Central Church of God in Charlotte, NC, and The Journey in Lake Wylie, SC. She was cherished for her southern charm, her unwavering faith, and the warmth and hospitality she shared with others.

In addition to her parents, she is reunited in heaven with her sister, Gail Canover Pons-Dodge, who passed away on July 15, 2024.

Betsy is survived by her husband Harry “Steve” Stefanik and her daughters, Elizabeth Webb (husband Jay) of Petrolia, CA, and Ashley Fischer (husband Matt) of Erie, PA; her brother-in-law Richard Dodge; niece, Susan Dodge-Renslow; nephew, David Dodge; sister-in-law, Carol Campisi-Stefanik; and nephew, Richard Campisi. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse (Betsy’s favorite organization).

We rejoice in the promise of eternal life. Betsy is now at peace, resting in the arms of her Savior.

A Celebration of Life will be held in May 2025 at The Journey church in Lake Wylie, SC. All are invited to attend and can get additional details at a later date from the church.