Martha Jean Salvatore 1939-2025

Martha was born Feb. 14, 1939, in Youngstown, a daughter of Paul and Veronica Shulko Dubaj.

She was a proud graduate of Campbell Memorial High School.

Martha married the love of her life, Roger A. Salvatore, on April 26, 1958, and they shared 48 years of marriage until his passing on March 21, 2006.

Martha was a licensed cosmetologist and her warmth and care for others were felt by anyone invited into her home to sit in her salon chair. Always in service of others, she spent 20 years helping customers at Hills Department Store before retiring in 1993. Many people also knew her best in the kitchen, either working the Friday fish fry at Patsy’s in Campbell or catering on the weekends with her sister, Mary Pickles. But her most important job was raising her three daughters, of whom she was always incredibly proud.

Martha was a devout practitioner of the Catholic faith. She was a member of the former St. Joseph the Provider Church in Campbell, where she sang in the choir, and St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hubbard, where she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Societies. Martha was also on the festival committee at both churches, where she shared her skills of pinching pierogis, rolling stuffed cabbage and frying haluski to help support her churches and nourish her community.

As the youngest of 12 kids, Martha always knew the importance of family. Through her vibrance, quick-witted humor and delicious cooking, she had a habit of bringing people together and turning friends into family everywhere she went. She got together with her Hills Department Store crew monthly for brunch and birthdays, and enjoyed getting breakfast with her Campbell classmates to share old stories and good laughs. Martha loved being social and independent, and even taught many of her friends to drive. However, all they had to do was call, and she would drop everything to take a friend to a doctor’s appointment, the grocery store or anywhere else they needed to go. And if her friends couldn’t come to her, she went to them. Martha loved to take the train to Florida and Las Vegas to visit her farther-away friends and relatives. But she didn’t have to go all the way to Vegas to find a good slot machine. … Martha often enjoyed playing the slots at Mountaineer with her beloved siblings.

If she wasn’t supporting her grandkids, nieces or nephews at one of their activities, she was probably playing bunco, bocce or tripoli with her teammates and friends. On the off chance Martha was home, she was either watching a Hallmark Christmas movie or yelling at the refs of her favorite sports teams. Despite the usual disappointment, Martha’s lifelong loyalty to the Cleveland Browns never wavered and could only be matched by her support of the Buckeyes and the Guardians.

The next best season after football season was winter, because Martha got to bring her family together for traditional holiday meals, where her famous Slovak and Italian recipes were always at the center of the table.

If she wasn’t in the kitchen in her apron, the other place you could find Martha at any event was on the dance floor. She could never resist a song by her favorite singer, Elvis Presley, and she loved to polka and jitterbug the night away with a glass of sweet wine and anyone with enough energy to keep up with her. Her family takes comfort in knowing that after nearly 20 years on Earth without her husband, Roger, they are finally dancing together again.

Martha will be deeply missed and always remembered by her children, Cheryl (Tim) Silvidi of Hubbard, Debbie (John) Kleiner of Liberty and Cindy (Mark) Merlo of Columbiana; her grandchildren, Glenn and Jon-Roger Silvidi, Matt (Bernadette) Kleiner and Jenna (Zach Sears) Kleiner, and Cory (Jordan Edgell), Carlie and Marina Merlo; great-grandchildren, Ilia Kleiner, and Zachary and Lydia Sears; her brother, John “Richie” Dubaj of Campbell; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roger; brothers and sisters-in law, Paul (Marjorie) Dubaj and Frank (Anne) Dubaj; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary (Bill) Mokrovich, Katie (John) David, Vera (John) Mraz, Annie (Harold) Dunlap and Caroline (Clifford) Daley; and sister-in-law, Marylou Dubaj.

The Salvatore family has entrusted Martha’s care to the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell.

Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at the funeral home.

A prayer service will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Campbell.

Martha will be laid to rest next to Roger in St. John the Baptist Cemetery.

Please visit www.waskofamily.com to view this obituary and to leave condolences with the family.

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