Marianne E. Pekarcik 1929-2024

She was born March 25, 1929, in Struthers, the daughter of Michael and Anna Virtes Troxil. She was a 1946 graduate of Struthers High School.

After high school, Marianne worked for the Girl Scouts doing secretarial work. She attended Youngstown Business College and then received an associate degree.

After graduating from business school, she moved to Washington, D.C., and did secretarial work for the U.S. Navy for two years. Upon returning home, she met the love of her life, Philip Pekarcik, at the bowling alley and they married on June 25, 1955. She worked for Ohio Works Employees Federal Credit Union for over 30 years.

She loved baking cookies with her children and grandchildren and was a master at making kolachi. She regularly attended bingo and was on a bowling league with her daughter Doreen for many years. She loved to cook for her family, was an avid reader and enjoyed working on puzzles.

Her greatest accomplishments were her family and her faith. She loved and looked forward to celebrating the holidays. Upon rising each morning, when she wasn’t sick, she was down on her knees saying her rosary with passion and purpose. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Austintown, where she participated in the ladies guild and was a facilitator for a renewal (Christ Renews His Parish) that she made with her daughters.

She was a loving, dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was full of compassion and love for her family whom she adored.

Marianne was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip Pekarcik, her parents and her brother.

Marianne will be sadly missed by her daughters, Michelle Gearhart (Frank Rosetti) and Doreen Miner (Ed Miner); grandchildren, Kristie Michelle Gearhart (Alex Martz), Raymond Geoffrey Gearhart (Jessica Thompson), Marissa Miner (Andrew Hylwa) and Melinda Miner; and her great-grandson, Adonis Thompson.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Hospice of the Valley for their extraordinary care and sincere compassion.

Friends may call 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home in Cornersburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, preceded by a friendly call from 10 to 11 a.m.

The family requests that contributions be made to Hospice of the Valley Mercy Health, 979 Tibbetts Wick Road, Suite A, Girard, OH 44420.

Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home will be handling all of the arrangements.

(special notice)