Mary Spondike, Countryside Convalescent Home, 8221 Lamor Rd., Mercer; formerly of 575 Fisher Hill St., Sharon, passed away peacefully at 2:47 p.m. Thursday (4-2-09) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. She was 96.
Mrs. Spondike was born August 20, 1912 in Moundsville, WV a daughter of the late Peter and Julia Pelesh Dobrovolski.
She traveled by train to attended elementary school in Staurtsville, Ohio and moved to Sharon in the 1920's where she attended Sharon High School.
Mary was a active member of St. John's Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, Sharon, and was a charter member of its mother's and daughter's club. She was also a charter member of the American Carpo-Russ Club in Sharon where she managed the kitchen for many years. She cooked, served dinners and catered many banquets at the club and her pies, which were sold every Friday, were legendary. Mary loved flower and vegetable gardening and was proud of her beautiful rose garden which was sixty years old.
Her husband, John Spondike, whom she married September 14, 1935, passed away March 17, 1995.
Surviving are: two sons, Edward (Elaine) Spondike, Painsville, Ohio; and Robert Spondike, Sharon; seven grandchildren, David Spondike, Copley, Ohio; Darrin (Amy) Spondike, Painsville, Ohio; Michael Spondike (partner Al Norman), Columbus, Ohio; Karen Spondike (partner Nadia Gilani), London, England; Mark (Ellen) Spondike, Pittsburgh, PA; Patricia (Kirk) Hines, Mercer, PA; and John (Joy) Spondike, Elyria, Ohio; twelve great grandchildren, Alexandra, Alexander, Jordan, Zachary, Erica, Justin, Julia, Jaden and Jania Spondike; and Corri, Jenni and Maggi Hines; two sisters, Eva Saniski, Sharpsville, PA; and Mildred Salence, Hermitage; a brother-in-law, James Gibson, Hermitage; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by five sisters, Ann Benic, Pauline Gibson, Helen Scott, Rose Banick and Julia Yanak; and three brothers, Peter, Michael and Andrew Dobrovolski.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the building fund at St. John's Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, 725 Cedar Ave., Sharon, PA 16146.
Calling hours will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday (4-7-09) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon. where a Panachida service will be held at 7:45 p.m.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday (4-8-09) in St. John's Cemetery chapel, corner of Rt. 18 and Morefield Rd., Hermitage, with the Rev. Msgr. Michael Polanichka, pastor of St. John's Carpatho-Russian Church, Sharon, officiating.
A prayer service will be held at 10:20 a.m. in the funeral home prior to leaving for the cemetery chapel.
Interment: St. John's Cemetery, Hermitage.