Marian J. Ocarz 1928-2023

Born Feb. 3, 1928, in Youngstown, Marian was the daughter of the late Michael Thomas and Laura Waller Adams.

After graduating in January 1945 from Woodrow Wilson High School, she worked for the Youngstown Vindicator. As a valued employee in the classified ads department, she was the first woman in that department who was permitted to continue working after marriage.

She wed James Ocarz on Feb. 7, 1948, and devoted her time to raising her six children, providing them with gentle guidance, good meals, and an abundance of delicious cookies at Christmas. As the children left home, Marian became more active with her church, St. Charles Borromeo, through its Altar Guild and Garden Club, and through years of dedication to Eucharistic Adoration.

At around the age of 50, Marian chose to overcome her fear of water and learn to swim. She started with swim lessons at the downtown YMCA and spent hours doing laps and making new friends. She later attended water classes at the Ursuline Motherhouse well into her 80s.

Marian was not one to have idle time during the day, spending many hours at the sewing machine creating beautiful clothes to perfection for both herself and her family. In her later years, she took up knitting, making unique and complicated sweaters. She was a wonderful host for holiday meals, often including friends of her children who were unable to be with their own families. There was always room for extra guests.

She is survived by her children, Barbara (Michael) Roman of Austintown; Charles (Elena) Ocarz of Springfield, Mo.; Susan (James) Krumpak of Poland; Carolyn (Bryan) Wallner of Vancouver, BC, Canada; and Monica (Richard) Rothhaas of Cincinnati. She is also survived by her beloved brother, Karl Adams; and her grandchildren, Michelle and Jennifer Roman; Charles Jr. and Monica Ocarz; Katie, Karen and Kevin Krumpak; Lyla, Audrey and Peter Wallner; and Cameron and Molly Rothhaas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Ocarz; son, Paul Ocarz; siblings, Ruth Long, Kathleen Skotynsky, Muriel Grybos and John Richard Adams; as well as her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ed and Helen Ocarz, Alice Adams, James Long, Walter Skotynsky and Larry Grybos; and by her niece, Janice Thompson; and nephews, Thomas and Nicolas Skotynsky.

Special thanks to the staff at Woodlands Assisted Living and Hampton Nursing Center, and the nurses and aides from Hospice of the Valley, for their respectful assistance and professional care.

Visitation is from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday, March 3, 2023, at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Boardman, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the The Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road, Canfield, OH 44406; or to Hospice of the Valley, 979 Tibbetts Wick Road, Girard, OH 44420.

(special notice)