Mary Sobey, of Hermitage, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 31, 2025, in the home she loved and surrounded by family. She was 103.

Mrs. Sobey was born on May 9, 1921, in Hermitage, a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Hoyney) Noga. She was a 1939 graduate of Hickory High School.

In addition to being a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, she also worked at the former American Laundry, Sharon Hardware Manufacturing Co., Isaly's Dairy Store, Homestead Dairy and Thrift Drug.

Mary was a lifelong, active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermitage, where she happily served in the Dorcas Society, alongside many other wonderful members who became her deeply cherished, greatly supportive, and fun-loving church family.  She guided young lives to the church for many years by driving family and friends to Sunday School and Bible School.  Mary also served for about 30 years as an envelope secretary,

Her husband, Andrew Sobey, whom she married on September 6, 1943, passed away on October 9, 1988. Together, after World War II, they built their family home by hand, using lumber purchased from the abandoned army barracks in Reynolds.  While pregnant with their first child, Arlene, Mary hauled lumber and pounded nails on the roof to secure the shingles.  Until well into her 80s, and to the dismay of her children, she occasionally could be found on the roof washing windows or making sure the roofers fixed a leak properly.

Always up for an adventure, in 1993, Mary took a Spanish class at the local Penn State campus to try and prepare for a trip to Chile to visit the family of her new daughter-in-law, Roxana.  She also realized a life-long dream when, in her 80s, she took organ lessons with other seniors at Valley Piano and Organ.

For the past 37 years, Mary was blessed with wonderful, caring, and extremely helpful friends and neighbors, Ray and Joyce.  They watched out for her, picked up her mail and newspaper when it became difficult for her to do it, cleared her snow, took out her trash, and visited with her.  They helped the family so much more than they could ever know.

At 101, after a broken ankle hampered her mobility, Mary still maintained a positive attitude.  She was determined to live out her days in her own home under her own power, so she worked hard, recovered the ability to walk using a walker, and returned to her own home.  Although frustrated by her limitations, instead of asking for help, she devised ways to make things a little easier for herself so she could continue baking and sharing her family-famous nut rolls, lady fingers, chocolate chip cookies, lemon pie and banana bread.  Even her aides and caregivers commented that she was like their own grandmothers – they could never leave her house without a cookie or an apple in their pockets.  They always marveled at her positive attitude and lack of complaints.

In the last few years, Mary discovered the game of Rummikub.  Everyone who visited was offered the "opportunity" to learn to play.  The more people who learned, the more chances for Mary to play.  She was blessed to have a niece, Patti, and a nephew, Jim, who came very frequently to play Rummikub with her.

She is survived by three daughters, Arlene Paoletta, of Mechanicsburg, Margie Sobey, of Aurora, CO, and Karen Presley and her husband Mark, of Conneaut, OH; two sons, Andrew Sobey, Jr. and his wife Patricia, of Fenton, MO, and Charles Sobey and his wife Roxana, of Plano, TX; seven grandchildren; Mark Presley (Candace), Adam Presley (Jaime), Melissa Presley, Drew Sobey, Casey Sobey (Janelle), Chase Sobey, and Isabella Sobey; and 10 great-grandchildren, Mark Presley, Brad Presley, Stephen Presley, Alaina Donell, Marlie Reed, Owen Reed, Jonathon Presley, Adam Presley, Madelyn Presley, and Lydia Presley.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by five sisters, Anna Kapusta, Pauline Batcher, Mildred Kapusta, Helen Chlpka and Margaret Noga; three brothers, Joseph, John and infant Peter Noga; and a son-in-law, Michael Paoletta.

The family suggests memorial contributions be directed to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3325 Morefield Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148; or to the donor's choice.

Calling hours will be 4 - 7 pm Thursday, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 East State St., Sharon, and 10 - 11 am Friday in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Funeral service will be 11 am Friday in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3325 Morefield Rd., Hermitage, with Rev. Dennis Blauser, officiating.

Interment: Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Hermitage.