Mary E. Petrush Puskar – formerly of Monessen

Mary E. Petrush Puskar, formerly of Monessen, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2019, at Reformed Church Home in Old Bridge, N.J. She was born on Aug. 22, 1927, to the late Joseph and Susan Petrush. She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Joseph Puskar, also from Monessen, a brother and an infant sister. On Jan. 26, 1947, she married Joseph Puskar and lived most of her life in Monessen. Mary was the mother of three sons: Thomas (Gloria) of Howell, N.J., Allan (Donna) of Wellsboro, Pa., and Gregory (Deborah) of Camp Hill, Pa. She is also survived by four grandsons; three granddaughters; seven great-granddaughters; one great-grandson; and a brother, Kenneth (Susan) Petrus of Loveland, Ohio. A lifelong resident of Monessen prior to moving to Camp Hill, Pa., and later to Old Bridge, N.J., she attended the former Holy Name of Jesus School and graduated from Monessen High School. She was a member of the former Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, was active in the Christian Mothers and a lifelong member of First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association and Holy Name’s ladies auxiliary. She also volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. Mary loved her family, adored children and could easily strike up a conversation with anyone. She was known for her baking skills, especially her nut rolls and pineapple pie. In her later years, she relished new creative pursuits, painting, arts and crafts and more recently, computer generated designs. Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at ROBERT A. BILLICK FUNERAL HOME INC., Grand Boulevard and Marion Avenue, Monessen, www.billicksfuneralhome.com. A blessing service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. funeral Mass in Epiphany of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Holy Name Cemetery In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.