Mary F. Wollet 1924-2025

Mary Frances, “Mickey” to her friends and family, built a beautiful life with her husband, Walt, to whom she was married 41 years prior to his passing on Aug. 14, 1988.

Her childhood was spent with her parents, Mary Elizabeth Varley and Frank McNally, along with her siblings, Bill, Jack, Rita, Frank and Ellen. She was close with her siblings, and their love for each other was evident. She would name her firstborn after her brother, Bill, who died in World War II over Sicily. She made Uncle Jack lunch and dinner every day for weeks after his wife, Aunt Margaret, passed.

Wednesdays were affectionately called “Saint Mary Frances Rita Day,” as the entire day was devoted to shopping and lunch together. Her brother Frank was an attorney, and all the neighbors knew who to ask for free legal advice. Frank would always help and called Mom a “shade tree lawyer.” Mom would be there when he was sick, just like when she cared for their mother.

I can still hear the giggling of my Aunt Ellen when they were up to something. Mom missed Ellen when she moved out of town, so every summer, our parents would pile the seven of us into a station wagon and make the six-hour drive to Indiana to visit. How they did this, and how all of us survived, especially our parents, is still a mystery.

Mom had a kind heart and always looked out for her friends and neighbors. On one occasion, a 5- or 6-year-old little neighbor-girl came knocking at our door, crying. Mom answered the door and asked what was wrong. The girl said it was her mom’s birthday, and she didn’t have a present. Mom took her into the kitchen and helped the little girl make and decorate a cake for her mom. She went home with a smile and a present for her mom. She spent her life helping others and never expected anything in return. It was just what you did.

If you walked into our home at any given time, you would find our mom in the kitchen cooking, baking or canning. More often than not, you were welcomed by the smell of hot chocolate chip cookies, which she would become famous for, well, at least to her grandchildren and most of the North Side of Youngstown. Mom welcomed everyone into our home, and would whip up a delicious dinner with ease. It didn’t matter if you were hungry or not, you were eating. She’d invite you in for a chat and a good meal around the kitchen table. This was her hub of activity, where you could find her cooking and laughing with her friends. Everything was homemade, and all of us would come to realize how special each and every bite was.

Mickey was the COO and CFO of our home on Lora Avenue for more than 50 years. There, she raised, in her words, “the apples of her eyes and her greatest accomplishments,” her children — Bill, Mark, Harry, Rosemary, Jeff, Mary Beth and Michael. She relished the chaos of a home filled with seven children. It was loud and busy, just how she loved it. She always said that she had a mother’s ear and could only hear what she wanted or what was important. In her later years, these memories would bring her such joy.

She had 20 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, all of whom she enjoyed spending time with, as it reminded her of when she was raising her own children. She loved getting updates on family and hearing about her grandchildren’s lives and accomplishments.

A master at checkers, she taught everyone to play. If you were lucky enough to beat Grandma at a game, it meant you were talented. She would never throw a game, even for a grandchild. She spent many hours rocking babies and singing the Irish lullaby “Tura Lura Lural,” being so proud of her Irish heritage.

Mom made everything special, especially the holidays. Her favorites were Thanksgiving and Christmas. She loved all the turkey and trimmings for Thanksgiving. I now understand why she was up so early cooking for the feast later that day. Christmas Eve at her home with all her grandkids made her feel like a kid again. The floor would be covered with boxes of presents, and the table with food and cookies. You knew it was Christmas when the candy cane and clothespin cookies came out.

Throughout her entire life, she was on the quest for a deal and loved a good sale. Being pushed and shoved on Black Friday did not deter her from getting my sister and me our Christmas Lenox dishes for 50% off. I do think she may have hidden them the day before because she sprinted off the escalator and found those dishes too quickly and easily. She was known for driving to several different stores to get the best prices. You may even be lucky enough to receive a box of her random deals.

Mom believed in the importance of education and saw that all her children attended 12 years of parochial school (St. Edward, then Ursuline). It was non-negotiable that each of her children would earn a college degree. She drove us all to be our best. She pushed us to study and go to college, which we heard over and over again throughout the years. You would get an earful if she believed you were doing something wrong.

She was smart and had a mind for math. From a young age, she developed an interest in the stock market, and this would be a lifelong passion. She was reviewing her portfolio and analyzing stocks just last week.

When she wasn’t spending time with her children, Mom enjoyed her weekly bridge games, doing her cross-stitch, and watching her game shows.

Her family was everything to her and brought her the most joy. Making her home with Mary Beth and her family and living across the street from Rosemary filled the last 15 years with happiness, laughter, and a lot of cooking. In late August and September, Rosemary and Mom would be canning. Their specialties were pickles, tomatoes, and peppers. This was a task that would go from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. over several days. Luckily, we would all benefit from all their hard work, receiving jars of the goods. Mom never wanted anything, but she did love scratch-offs and some chocolate candy now and then.

Mom’s advice for a long and happy life: “Eat a lot of onions and garlic” and “Mind your own business.”

She leaves her daughter, Mary Beth (Kevin) Scheetz; her sons, Bill (Kerri) Wollet, Mark (Marilyn) Wollet, Jeff (Renee) Wollet and Michael (Jennifer) Wollet; her daughter-in-law, Joanne Wollet; her granddaughters, Molly Colaneri, Emily Wollet, Cally Wollet Ankerman, Rebecca Bolchalk, Jillian Lee and Delaney Wollet; grandsons, Ian, Aiden and Torin Scheetz, Walt and Gene Wollet, Brian, Tim and Mark Wollet, Luke and Adam Wollet, James and Eric Wollet, and Matthew and Jonathan Wollet; great-grandchildren, Gabby and Nicolas, Christopher Colaneri, Quinn, Drew Bolchalk, Genevieve Bolchalk, Georgia McKissic, Rylynn McKissic, Benjamin Wollet, Zoe Wollet, Mark Wollet, Alya and Luke Wollet, and Vivian Lee. Mom has many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, and her children, Rosemary and Harry; her siblings, William Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, Frank McNally, Rita Sellers and Ellen Reed.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2025, at St. Dominic Church, 77 E. Lucius Ave., Youngstown.

Family and friends may pay their respect prior to Mass from 9 to 9:50 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Dominic Church, 77 E. Lucius Ave., Youngstown.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman.

Family and friends may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and to give condolences to the family.

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