Wasko Funeral Home
Marie A. Grachanin, 65
Bessemer, Pa: Funeral services will be held 9:30am Tuesday at the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell, Ohio and 10am in Holy Trinity Church in Struthers, Ohio for Marie A. Grachanin, 65 who passed away Thursday evening in Forbes Regional Hospital after a brief illness.
Marie was born Dec. 23, 1944 in Youngstown, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Novacich Loboy.
She was a 1962 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School and then went on to receive her Cosmetology Managers License.
She was a member of the church and besides being a homemaker, Marie worked in Strouss Dept. Store as a Wig Stylist, as a manager at Youngstown State University in Beuchner Hall in the Salad Dept., she was a self employed cosmetologist, and was vice president of Mr. Motorcycle Company.
Marie loved all outdoor activities, canoeing, horse back riding, going to their cabin in West Virginia, antiquing and going to the casinos, traveling the world and cooking; and she loved her cat Mr. Whiskers.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Charles whom she married September 16, 1985; daughters, Dawn Marie LaGamba of Robinson Twp., Pa. and Deana Marie (Scott) Buckner of Edinburg, Pa.; a stepson, Charles N. Grachanin, III of Polk, Pa., a granddaughter, Ashley Hope and a brother, Douglas (Virginia) Loboy of Struthers.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
The Grachanin family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell, Ohio and will receive friends Monday evening from 5-8pm.
Guest Book
Marie will be sadly missed!
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland
I am the keeper of the information. The last remaining visage of what happened on Rosary Drive in the 60’s and 70’s. The youth of Marie and her daughters.
We shared everything with the Loboy’s and them us. I remember it all every nuance, every craziness, every funny and sad moment, everything.
I remember Joe’s head rubs and seeing both Playboy, Reader’s Digest and National Geographic all at the same time—Mary’s wonderful sense of humor and the interaction of two people who loved each other. I was there the night when a perfectly calm, sunny day turned into a storm and Joe passed. My mother and I listened at the window from her bedroom to the verbal sadness.
The wonderment of Mary, who survived everything with such pure and genuine strength; who carried on through hardships; never a bad word about anyone. To the years of her support and help.
I knew Marie from my youth the one who teenage girls look to and want to copy—the one who set the style. It was endless days of fun with learning the Twist, beehives, mini skirts, bleach blonde and two-tone hair colors to wigs and falls—false eyelashes and makeup.
Crazy phone calls to strangers playing innocent pranks. Friday night pizza coming across the lawn from Marie; who couldn’t sleep while her husband was in Vietnam.
Strouss’ and a beauty shop that wanted to call her Maria because there was another Marie there. Through the pregnancies and miscarriages and divorces—through the simple day to day things that touch our lives and we can experience with each other.
I moved away in ’78 but I remember the youth and time of us all, while there was sadness I remember more the fun, the laughter, the endless craziness of the wonderful person that Marie was. I remember it all; I will cherish the memories and I was so lucky that was there.
Her family has much to endure with the loss of two extraordinary wonderful people. For me I am left with a void that will never be filled from people who are gone that I can only say is “I remember it too.”
My deepest sympathy to Marie’s family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Marie and I met in cosmetology school and became very good friends, we did everything together for a few short years. Even thou we lost contact I always remembered the fun and laughter we shared with the fondest of memories. Marie had a wonderful sense of humor and the ability to make people laugh. May God give you the strength To endure this difficult time. I will keep you all in my prayers. Shirley DelBoccio
Another classmate of ours has passed. God bless you, Marie.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Peloza Augustine
Like Charlotte’s beautifully written memories above, I remember the Loboys as the Ontko family on the other side of their house. The Rosary Drive of the 1960s and 1970s was a family unto itself. We helped each other when necessary and always knew that we had neighbors we could count on. There were endless summers of sitting on the porches, baseball games, gardening and the unique personalities of both Mary and Marie. The Loboys were the heart of that street; their lives intertwined with all of us. Please remember that your mother, grandmother, wife, and sister will always be remembered with great love and affection and we look to the day when we will all be united with them once more.