Mary Irene (Pasternak) Zinkovich

BARBERTON---Mary Irene Zinkovich, 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 16, 2021. She was born on June 25, 1932 to Joseph and Mary Pasternak, Czechoslovakian immigrants,  in Barberton and raised in their Slovak culture. She attended Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic School, Highland Junior High School and graduated from Barberton High School. She was a lifetime member of the Slovak Catholic Sokol organization, in which she was quite the track and field star in the 1950’s, winning many awards and a beautiful watch that she displayed proudly to this day. Mary enjoyed cooking, baking, crocheting and sewing. She had a very outgoing and caring personality and was always willing to help a family member or friend in need. She had a great sense of humor and a very infectious laugh! She enjoyed telling jokes, playing cards and bingo and loved polka dancing. Mary was a member of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church and later Prince of Peace where she regularly served as a greeter along with her sister, Margaret (Pestie), loved volunteering to help with the Church picnic and annual fish fry’s and was a member of the Prayer Shawl group in which she crocheted more afghans than one could imagine. She prayed the rosary daily and was a devout member of the Catholic faith. She lived at Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living since January 2020 where she was lovingly cared for by the entire staff and spent the last few months also under the care of Crossroads Hospice. We truly appreciate the amazing care provide by all the staff involved. We would also like to thank Kelly Morris for the loving in-home care she provided for Mary before her move to Pleasant Pointe. Mary is survived by her daughter Maryann Struckel and husband Steve of Barberton; two beloved grandsons Ryan and Jeremy Struckel; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband John, her parents, her brothers Michael and Joseph Pasternak and sister Margaret Genet. We are comforted by thoughts of her being with them now. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1263 Shannon Ave., Norton. Fr. James Maloney celebrant and Deacon Robin Adair assisting. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Calling Hours will be on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 from 5-8 p.m. at the SILVA-HOSTETLER FUNERAL HOME, 1199 Wooster Rd. West, Barberton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Barberton Area Community Ministries (B.A.C.M.), 939 Norton Ave., Barberton, OH 44203. For those who would like to view Mary’s service remotely, it will be videotaped and available on the funeral home website later on Thursday.

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