Mary E Horack (Horak)

Mary E. Horack (Horak) 1913-2014
Our Mother, Mary Elizabeth Horack, died January 21, 2014 surrounded by her children. A resident, for the past year, of The Village at St. Edward, Mother joyfully celebrated her 100th birthday last September 28th with her six children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Mother lived a good and full life. A passionate debater, voracious reader, author of short stories, and humorous commentaries on the vicissitudes of daily life, and writer of letters to the editor of the Beacon Journal (honored and delighted that former Beacon entertainment critic, Dick Shippy, devoted an entire Sunday column to her letter critique of the movie "The Graduate"). She played piano by ear, was an accomplished artist skilled in oil, watercolor, chalk, and pencil mediums.
Mother was a current member of St. Sebastian Parish. She and Dad were long time past members of Holy Family Parish and among the earliest members of Our Lady of Victory Parish. She gave her time and energy to many organizations including as a founder and first president of the Walsh Jesuit High School Mothers' Club, charter member and president of the Columbian Guild (designer of the Guild's "Heart and Hands for Service" lapel pin), member and past president of the Silver Lake Grandmother's Club. She and Dad were past members of the Silver Lake Country Club, where Mother played golf (although she admitted, not well!). They enjoyed traveling the world together.
Mother was preceded in death by her husband and our beloved Dad, Anthony J. (Tony) Horack; parents George and Anna Reitz, brothers Joseph and Andrew Reitz, sister Ann Ringler, infant sister Victoria Reitz.
She leaves behind her children and their spouses: Virginia Knapp (Rev. Fr. Donald), Alan Horak (Suzanne), Janice Romanoski (George), Marianne Braddock (John), Richard Horak (Mary Ann),and Michelle Comeaux (Larry Gause); grandchildren: David, Lisa, James, Tina, Sherri, Lorraine, Mary, Donald, Kristin, Wendy, John, Joseph, Jeffrey, Timothy, Gregory, Justin, and Jonathan; great grandchildren: Stephanie, Matthew, Rachel, Elena Grace, Christopher, Laura, Jonathan, Dillon, Tanner, Meredith, Ryan, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Sarah, Brett, Devin, and Claire; great great granddaughters Alexis and Marissa.
We extend our gratitude to the dedicated nurses, aides, and staff of The Village at St. Edward 3rd floor nursing care and nurses, aides, and staff of VNS Hospice for their compassionate and loving care of Mother. Thank you, Sister M. Beatrice Fitzgerald, O.P.
Per Mother's wishes, cremation has taken place. Friends will be received at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. on Monday from 5-8p.m. Services will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 11:00a.m. at St. Sebastian Church, 476 Mull Ave. Private inurnment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to either: American Diabetes Association ( www.diabetes.org ), American Cancer Society ( www.cancer.org/donate ), The Dominican Sisters of Peace ( www.oppeace.org ), or the Women's Endowment Fund ( www.akroncf.org ).
(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel 330-867-4141)