Mary Ann (Parana) Kreckel, 94, of 1044 Windfall Road, St. Marys, passed away at the family homestead on Monday afternoon, December 2, 2013.
She was born January 17, 1919 in Johnsonburg, daughter of the late Joseph and Anna Gluck Parana. On September 4, 1944 in the Holy Rosary Church, she married Lavern Kreckel, Sr., who preceded her in death on December 24, 1965.
She is survived by a son, Lavern Kreckel, Jr. and his wife Mary; her grandson, Lavern Kreckel III; a granddaughter, Ann Reedy and her husband Scott; three great grandchildren, Sarah, Matthew, and Lauren Reedy; and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by three brothers, Edward “George” Parana of Wilcox, John Parana and his wife Karen, and Tom Parana and his wife Carol of Johnsonburg; a sister, Patricia Peterson of Mt. Jewett; and a sister-in-law, Faye Parana of Johnsonburg.
She was preceded in death by a son, Edward Kreckel, in infancy, in 1955; her sisters, Agnes Manno, Helen Wickett, Katherine Kocjancic, and Annie Parana, who died in infancy; and a brother, Joseph Parana.
Mrs. Kreckel was a 1937 graduate of Johnsonburg Area High School. After graduation she lived and worked in New York City, and later on worked at the Stackpole Corporation. For many years she volunteered at both the St. Marys Parochial School and Elk County Christian High School Cafeterias. She was also a member of the Rosary Altar Society.
She loved working in her flower garden and working around her home. She prayed a rosary every day, sometimes twice, and deeply loved her Catholic faith. She also enjoyed her soap operas and loved to spend time with her family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Thomas More Sikora, OSB, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, from 5:00 till 8:00 PM.
Willis G. Smith, 85, of 1678 Bucktail Road, St. Marys, passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at the Pinecrest Manor after a lengthy illness.