Mary A. Chaniga

Mary A. Chaniga, age 86, passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2010. due to a car accident. Mary was born in Racine, March 28, 1924, daughter of the late Victor and Josephine (Nee: Yankech) Chaniga and was a lifelong Racine resident.

She graduated from Washington Park High School, “Class of 1941,” attended St. Albertus College and Dominican College. She was a Certified Professional Secretary and spent her entire career as an executive secretary. She was employed for many years by the Dumore Company in sales and export, and retired from Young Radiator Company after 50 years in the business world. Mary was very devoted to her Catholic faith and tried to practice love and charity and lend a helping hand whenever possible. Her family was very important to her. She made a home for her parents and nursed her dear brother Joseph during his terminal illness. She watched her nieces and nephews grow up and loved them and their children as her own.

Her interests were in all forms of art, stitchery and nature, which she considered God’s greatest gift to be treasured and protected. She traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada, as well as abroad, including the Holy Land, Rome and Greece, as well as the land of her heritage, Czechoslovakia, and was well versed in the Slovak language. She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church from early childhood until it closed in 1998, and then joined St. Paul the Apostle Church.

She was a member of Daughters of Isabella, having served as Secretary and Vice Regent. Also a member of the Catholic Woman’s Club serving on the Board for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant brothers. John and Frank; and her brother, Joseph. She is survived by nieces and nephews and their children: Elizabeth (Dr. Greg) Okoniewski and Megan; Catherine (Rick) Ripma and Robert, Eric and Daniel; Thomas Chaniga; John (Theresa) Chaniga and Emily and Erin; Ann (Matt) Rotelli and Joseph Thomas; Mary (Arif) Fareed and Alia and Noah. Cousins, William (Michele) Stefunko in Canada; Paul Yankech and Margaret Czik in Racine; and relatives in Czechoslovakia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 26, 2010, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring St., with Rev. William J. Dietzler officiating. Interment will be held in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, St. Catherine’s High School or to the University of Notre Dame.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine  (262) 634-7888