Mary Helen (Ducko) Harchar

Mary Helen Ducko Harchar, a resident of Jefferson Hills for 68 years, formerly of Clairton, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2021.  She was born in Clairton on September 10, 1925 to the late Michael and Suzanna Ducko.  Mary was the loving and devoted wife of the late Joseph J. Harchar for 67 years. She is survived by her sons, Joseph Harchar of Woodbridge, VA, John (Judie) Harchar of The Woodlands, TX, Kenneth Harchar of Jefferson Hills and Robert Harchar of Jefferson Hills.  She is also survived by nephews Michael (Peggy) Ducko of Delmont and Mark (Lynn) Ducko of Jefferson Hills, nieces Geraldine Ducko, of Peoria, AZ and Susan (Paul) Vukovich, and cousin Margie Ospeck, of Salem, OH.

Mary was preceded in death by her brothers John and Michael, cousin Jeannie Ospeck, and her nephew Martin Ducko. She was a graduate of St. Joseph Catholic school in Clairton in 1939 and a graduate of Clairton High School in 1943.  Mary was a devoted mother and housewife who loved raising her four boys and helping with their schoolwork.  She enjoyed geography and watching destination television that explored different world cultures and their culinary delights. She watched sports on television, especially the Penguins and the Steelers.  She was also a big fan of Notre Dame and Thomas Jefferson High School football.  She also liked to help with her family’s WWII style Victory garden where many of the fruits and vegetables for the family meals came from. Mary was a cancer survivor of 34 years lending encouragement to those also afflicted with the same by saying a good word and lending her kind heart.

Mary had a happy personality who always tried to stress the positive things in life.  She loved a good joke as much, if not more, than her word search puzzles.  Mary would go through piles of these puzzle books in her later years all the while remarking how easy they were to do.  Mary was a member of the Jednota Slovak Organization, the First Catholic Slovak Union and the National Slovak Society. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, the National Geographic Society, or the March of Dimes Organization, which was an organization that Mary used to take collections for. Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, February 10th,from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at S.M. FINNEY FUNERAL HOME, 432 N. 6th St, Clairton, PA 15025. Service will take place Thursday, February 11th, at 10am at St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Clairton formally known as St. Joseph. Interment will follow at Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Online condolences may be offered at www.finneyfuneralhome.com

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