Mary Margaret Prah Relich
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On February 23, 2018, after a long, full, and generous life devoted to family, friends, and neighbors, Mary Margaret Prah Relich died. She was the daughter of Anton Prah and Neža Stopar. She was born on February 7, 1924 in Lemont Furnace, PA in the coal fields of western PA, to which her parents had emigrated from Slovenia. She was exceptionally proud of her Slovenian heritage and also exceedingly interested in and respectful of others’ ethnic heritage. She had an abiding interest in her Slavic heritage and a great facility for Eastern European languages. One of her most treasured memories was of her trip to Slovenia with her brother and sister to visit relatives at her parent’s birthplace.
She was the matriarch of her large extended family for more than six decades and the family oral historian. She was particularly fond of the account of her family, having housed a dozen families in their own home after the families were dispossessed from company housing during a coal strike in Fayette County. Her future husband was a member of one of the families taken in during the months-long strike.
She possessed a great industry modeled after her parents. She remained actively employed until age eighty-three. She was an extraordinary cook and baker with a keen culinary curiosity. She was a gracious and generous hostess of family, friends, and neighbors. She entertained countless festive Sunday and holiday meals with great joy.
She was a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church having been a proud member of the Christian Mothers. She was godmother and confirmation sponsor to scores of children.
She was a gentle and selfless person. She was one of nature’s noble people.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Joseph; Anthony (Fr. John OCD); John; and Frank. She is also preceded in death by her sisters Ann and Agnes. She was married to George L. Relich who also preceded her in death.
She is survived by her sons: George F. (Antoinette) Washington, PA; Robert (Mary Ann) Colorado Springs, CO; Michael (Margaret) Pittsburgh, PA; John (Jennifer Recupero) Washington, PA; and by her daughter Mary Relich Dudas (Robert) Pittsburgh PA. She is survived by ten grandchildren: Amy (Bryan) Cuddy; Brian (Nicole) Relich; Timothy (Megan) Relich; Cara (Kevin) Nord; Matthew (Sayaka) Relich; Sarah Relich; Nicholas (Hannah) Relich; Nathan Relich; Mary Alexis Dudas; and Zachary Dudas.
She is also survived by eight great grandchildren: Riley Cuddy; Connor Cuddy; Paeytn Relich; Morghan Relich; Benjamin Nord; Maxwell Nord; Ellis Relich and Reid Relich. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews, including her devoted niece Sister Michelle Prah C.S.J..
Friends will be received on Monday-February 26, 2018 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM and on Tuesday-February 27, 2018 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM and from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Ave. Washington, S. Timothy Warco, Supervisor/Director, Susan Falvo Warco, Director, S. Timothy Warco II, Director. A prayer service will be held at 9:00 AM on Wednesday-February 28, 2018 in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. in the Immaculate Conception Church, 119 W. Chestnut St. Washington Pa. Interment will be private in St. Mary Cemetery, Uniontown, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 1020 State St. Baden Pa. 15005. Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com