Obituary for Mary Hosack (McMahon VanAmburg)
Mary Catherine "Mickey" McMahon VanAmburg Hosack died Jun 25,2019 at age 101, following two years of wonderful services by GECAC and Meals On Wheels; one year of personal support from Heartland Hospice, and six months of residence and excellent personal care at Edinboro Manor.
She was born August 25, 1917 in Mount Jewett, PA, and moved to Erie at age 13 to attend high school. Mary graduated from Villa Maria Academy, but had to leave college during the depression to help support her parents. She worked for General Telephone of PA.
While raising her four children and caring for her husband during his recovery from open heart surgery, she returned to college in her late 40s, knowing she would be the sole provider for her family. She earned a BA in English from Villa Maria College.
Following her college graduation, she taught English at Academy High School, Erie.
She subsequently completed an MA in English from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She also completed graduate studies at the University of London, Pennsylvania State University and University of Pittsburgh.
Mary was involved in many community and leadership roles well into her 90s, including Cub Scout Den Mother; President, St. Andrew's Parent-Teacher Association; President, Pennsylvania Parent-Teachers Association; Executive board, American Red Cross, Erie Chapter; President, American Association of University Women, Pittsburgh Area Branch; President, Womens Club of Erie; Historian, St. Peter's Cathedral; and Member, Associates of Sisters of St. Joseph of NW PA.
She gave annual parties for patients of St. Mary's East and West, and was actively involved in St. Peter's Women's Council. She baked food weekly for the homeless, volunteered at the St. Peter's Food Pantry and helped the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network provide free meals in St. Paul Center.
She tutored many students who spoke English as a second language, and planned programs for her regular prayer group until age 94.
Following retirement, Mary traveled extensively throughout Europe, the mid-east and South America. She and her husband Ivan Hosack gave hundreds of presentations throughout northwest and southwest PA. For this, she was honored with the first Citizens' Award given by Millcreek Township School District.
In 2012 at age 94, she was honored by the Mercy Center on Women in their Women Making History. Here is a one minute video from that award. https://youtu.be/hJ-N00muivk
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward C. McMahon and Anna Rose Magee McMahon, her brother, Daniel McMahon, her two husbands, Malcolm S. VanAmburg, and Ivan G. Hosack, and her oldest son, James E. VanAmburg, Ph.D.
She is succeeded by her daughter-in-law and friend, Penelope VanAmburg, her remaining three children and spouses, Catherine A. VanAmburg; M. Christine and Stephan Juskewycz; David F. and Rebecca VanAmburg.
Her grandchildren and spouses include Noah and Kim VanAmburg; Nicholas and Cornelia VanAmburg; Alicia Juskewycz, Nicholas Juskewycz; David D and Mia VanAmburg; Rebecca M VanAmburg and Justine Emily; Leah VanAmburg Isaacs and Jaime Isaacs; Meghan Lininger and Nate Bruno; Sara and Keith Watkins.
She also leaves nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Her mother was proud to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with two ancestors fighting in the American Revolutionary war, but Mary was proudest of being a descentent of many generations of immigrants from Ireland.
Cremation was graciously handled by the Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. Burial will be at Bridgeview Cemetery, Mount Jewett, PA. The family will hold a private memorial in the future.
Mary asked that anyone interested in making a contribution in her memory donate what you can to the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network (SSJNN). Their website, http://www.ssjnn.org, describes their many community programs.
SSJNN accepts cash contributions, volunteers in their many programs, and products (hygiene products, paper supplies, non-perishable food items and paper products for their soup kitchen.
As she said with a smile, "If you want to do a good deed, donate a roll of toilet paper in my name."
She was born August 25, 1917 in Mount Jewett, PA, and moved to Erie at age 13 to attend high school. Mary graduated from Villa Maria Academy, but had to leave college during the depression to help support her parents. She worked for General Telephone of PA.
While raising her four children and caring for her husband during his recovery from open heart surgery, she returned to college in her late 40s, knowing she would be the sole provider for her family. She earned a BA in English from Villa Maria College.
Following her college graduation, she taught English at Academy High School, Erie.
She subsequently completed an MA in English from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She also completed graduate studies at the University of London, Pennsylvania State University and University of Pittsburgh.
Mary was involved in many community and leadership roles well into her 90s, including Cub Scout Den Mother; President, St. Andrew's Parent-Teacher Association; President, Pennsylvania Parent-Teachers Association; Executive board, American Red Cross, Erie Chapter; President, American Association of University Women, Pittsburgh Area Branch; President, Womens Club of Erie; Historian, St. Peter's Cathedral; and Member, Associates of Sisters of St. Joseph of NW PA.
She gave annual parties for patients of St. Mary's East and West, and was actively involved in St. Peter's Women's Council. She baked food weekly for the homeless, volunteered at the St. Peter's Food Pantry and helped the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network provide free meals in St. Paul Center.
She tutored many students who spoke English as a second language, and planned programs for her regular prayer group until age 94.
Following retirement, Mary traveled extensively throughout Europe, the mid-east and South America. She and her husband Ivan Hosack gave hundreds of presentations throughout northwest and southwest PA. For this, she was honored with the first Citizens' Award given by Millcreek Township School District.
In 2012 at age 94, she was honored by the Mercy Center on Women in their Women Making History. Here is a one minute video from that award. https://youtu.be/hJ-N00muivk
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward C. McMahon and Anna Rose Magee McMahon, her brother, Daniel McMahon, her two husbands, Malcolm S. VanAmburg, and Ivan G. Hosack, and her oldest son, James E. VanAmburg, Ph.D.
She is succeeded by her daughter-in-law and friend, Penelope VanAmburg, her remaining three children and spouses, Catherine A. VanAmburg; M. Christine and Stephan Juskewycz; David F. and Rebecca VanAmburg.
Her grandchildren and spouses include Noah and Kim VanAmburg; Nicholas and Cornelia VanAmburg; Alicia Juskewycz, Nicholas Juskewycz; David D and Mia VanAmburg; Rebecca M VanAmburg and Justine Emily; Leah VanAmburg Isaacs and Jaime Isaacs; Meghan Lininger and Nate Bruno; Sara and Keith Watkins.
She also leaves nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Her mother was proud to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with two ancestors fighting in the American Revolutionary war, but Mary was proudest of being a descentent of many generations of immigrants from Ireland.
Cremation was graciously handled by the Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. Burial will be at Bridgeview Cemetery, Mount Jewett, PA. The family will hold a private memorial in the future.
Mary asked that anyone interested in making a contribution in her memory donate what you can to the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network (SSJNN). Their website, http://www.ssjnn.org, describes their many community programs.
SSJNN accepts cash contributions, volunteers in their many programs, and products (hygiene products, paper supplies, non-perishable food items and paper products for their soup kitchen.
As she said with a smile, "If you want to do a good deed, donate a roll of toilet paper in my name."