Mary Lou Bankovic, 91, a resident of Elk Haven Nursing Home and formerly of 444 Dippold Avenue, St. Marys, passed away Friday, September 8, 2017, at Elk Haven, after a lengthy illness.
She was born October 28, 1925, in St. Marys, daughter of the late Walter and Eva Frkonja Bankovic. She was a lifelong resident of the area and was a graduate of Central Catholic High School, Class of 1943.
Mary Lou is survived by a brother, Joseph Bankovic of St. Marys; and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Mary Lou was preceded in death by four sisters, Kathryn Stauffer, Barbara Fleming, Anne Bickmire, and Rose Bankovic; and by three brothers, Paul Bankovic, Walter Bankovic, and William Bankovic.
During the war years, Mary Lou was employed by the Elk County Ration Board and later by the Pennsylvania State Employment Service. In 1949, she began her employment at Stackpole Carbon Company, where she worked as a secretary in the Carbon Engineering Department until her retirement in 1985, after 36 years of service. She was a member of the Stackpole Quarter Century Club.
Mary Lou was active in volunteer work at the Christian Food Bank, the Red Cross Bloodmobile, and the Sacred Heart Church. She was one of the founding members of the Slavic Ethnic Picnic Committee, where she served as secretary for a number of years. She was also the secretary for Meals on Wheels at one time and was an aide to the Eucharistic Minister at Pinecrest Manor.
There will be no visitation.
Due to the renovation at Sacred Heart Church, family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at the Sacred Heart Parish Center on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Michael Gabler, OSB, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Cemetery
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Elk County Catholic School System Scholarship Fund, Advancement Office, 600 Maurus Street, St. Marys, PA 15857; or to the Christian Food Bank, PO Box 1033, St. Marys, PA 15857; or to a favorite charity.