Betty Lou (Vojtkofsky) Michelli

Betsy passed away peacefully at her home on May 9, 2026. She was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania and was the youngest girl of eight children. She was the daughter of a coal miner and mother that worked at Kent State University, they did not have much growing up, but what they did have was family and she loved her brothers and sisters fiercely. She carried stories of them growing up together all throughout her life to pass on with her own children and then raised her children with the same value - you may not always have to have much, but you always have family.

She is survived by the love of her life, Daniel R. Michelli, who she married on September 25, 1971 and they shared a life of 54 years together, along with their two daughters and son in laws; Heather (Jay) Keas and Rebecca (Joseph) Capan; Her grandchildren Hailee (Jack) Rohal, Kaila McDonough and Donovan Williams, Avery, Reagan and Joseph Capan; Her brothers Donald (Carol) Vojtkofksy, Arthur (Terry) Vojtkofksy, Ronald (Sue) Vojtkofsky, Gary (Kim) Vojtkofsky and sister Linda (Michael) Samaco and many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

Betsy was a very simple woman and didn’t require much to fill her soul, it was easy, and it was just being surrounded by her family. She loved to laugh and make others laugh around her. She enjoyed going to the casino, long drives with her husband spending the day together, or simply just sitting at home watching her birds out the window. She enjoyed watching her sports, whether in person or on television, she loved tennis, golf and was a dedicated Cavaliers and Guardian’s fan.

After retiring from being a meat wrapper in the grocery industry for 39 years, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, going on cruises and getting to see parts of the world that she never thought she would see. However, nothing completed her more or brought her more joy, than being in the comfort of her home and getting to spend time with her grandchildren. Betsy, along with her husband Dan were the epitome of what the word “grandparent” looks like and means! They never missed a school function, a sport, a birthday, a holiday or anything that meant something special to any one of their grandchildren! “Nana” is what her grandchildren called her, she was always there with open arms or ear for all of them, eager to make them laugh or smile after a bad day, spoil them rotten just because she could and always made sure each of them felt her love individually. Our family dinners will never be the same, there will always be an empty chair for her at our table and we will always miss her cooking.

There will be countless voids in all of our lives, due to how deep our love is for her. Betsy never knew a stranger, she would talk to anyone and everyone, making that person feel special and put a smile on their face. In February 2024, she received a device that saved her life, which was the LVAD and we were blessed with two more amazing years with her! In March 2026, we found out that she had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She fought all the way to the very end, until God decided it was time to spend eternity pain free with him. She was preceded in death by her parents John (Betty) Vojtkofsky, brother John Vojtkofsky and sister Shirley Marcolini.

Everyone that had a hand in her healthcare journey – there will never be enough gratitude to Thank You for having a hand in blessing us more time, with the woman who was the center of our family. The entire Summa Health Cardiology Team, in specifically Dr. Pietrolungo, Dr. Varian and Bridget Hilker. Her Oncologist, Nephrologist and Dialysis team, At home physical therapist and nursing, all of her physical therapists and nurses while she was in the Akron City Cardiac Care Unit.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Shortrs Spicer Crislisp Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel from 11am to 12pm with services to follow at 12pm with Pastor Scott Hindel officiating. Burial will follow in Mapel Grove Cemetery.

We would like to ask that in lieu of flowers, if you are able, please make your donation to: The American Heart Association Akron Heart Walk in honor of Betsy Michelli. Donations will be accepted in honor of Summa Health LVAD Team.

See QR code for donations.