Mary Teresa Churgovich, 89, passed away peacefully on the morning of Wednesay, August 1, 2012.
Mary was the eldest of four siblings (Chester Kuls, Stan Sekulski, and Helen Kurlic), born May 24, 1923 to the late John and Sophie (Zuber) Sekulski. Raised in the era of the Great Depression, she found herself having the early responsibility of acting as head of the family along with her mother. Mary, along with her sibling’s first language was Polish. At family gathering this was the language of choice as her mother was the Matriarch of the family.
During WWII she became part of the war effort as a “Rosie the Riveter”, welding airplane engine mounts. Another event of WWII was when Ed Churgovich came home on leave from the Navy and proposed to Mary. That same week the wedding was planned and they were married; a marriage that lasted over 50 years, until Ed passed away in January 1998.
After the War Mary and Ed started a family and had four children, Dennis (Kathleen), David-deceased, Laura (Harold) Fahrenbrook, and Ray. The values and ethics that they instilled are values that are hard to find today. Dinner every evening with the family was a constant staple of the home. What she also passed along to her children was capabilities to take care of themselves. All of the children know how to cook, have basic sewing skills, and have learned over the years not only how to respect yourself, but also to respect others.
Mary also was an expert seamstress where she put her talents to work sewing wedding dresses. She also put those talents to work sewing pajamas for her children and a full wardrobe for all of Laura’s Barbie Dolls. There were also many hand-me-down pants with a lot of patches holding them together.
Mary will also be remembered for the Christmas cookies being baked, the various types of chocolate candies she created, the fancily decorated cakes, and the birthday cakes right from the box with homemade frosting and sprinkles.
Besides her children, Mary leaves behind two grandchildren, Maureen and Jeremiah Churgovich.
A gathering will be held at the family home on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2 P.M. Interment with her husband will be at 2:30 P.M., Monday, November 5, 2012 at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman. Please meet at Waite & Son Funeral Home, Medina, at 1:30 P.M.
The family suggests that contributions be made to the Cleveland Clinic Hospice.
Arrangements being handled by Waite & Son Funeral Home, Medina.