Slickville woman was dedicated to community, church
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Pretty much everybody in Slickville knew Mary Maruca.
“She loved her town. … She definitely loved her church,” her son Joseph Maruca said.
She served as president of the Slickville Civic Center for more than 40 years, making sure it was ready for Slickville Lions Club meetings, senior citizen luncheons, funeral meals, baby showers and other community events.
“They always went through her for everything,” her son said.
Mary E. “Betty” Maruca of Slickville died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, at the William Penn Care Center. She was 92.
Born in Crabtree on Feb. 19, 1927, she was a daughter of Charles and Nellie (Keller) Dominick. She grew up in a family of eight siblings and left school early to help take care of the younger ones.
She married Joseph E. Maruca in 1952, and they moved to Slickville in 1953 and raised two sons.
In addition to her involvement with the Slickville Civic Center, she served for several years on the board of the Salem Township Public Library, which was housed in the civic center. It closed about eight years ago.
She also was a Westmoreland County Democratic committeewoman for the Slickville precinct, an elected position, for 38 years. In that office, she stayed active supporting the Democratic candidates and registering voters.
“Voter registration was probably the biggest thing for her,” Joseph Maruca said.
Mrs. Maruca was “addicted” to helping people, whether it was through community involvement, cooking or other activities, he said. She cooked for Lions Club meetings and, for a time, for the priest at St. Sylvester Parish.
“She was an amazing cook. She would cook the meals at home and take them to the rectory,” he said.
Mrs. Maruca was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph E. “Muzzy” Maruca Sr., in December 1987; a sister; and four brothers.
She is survived by her two sons, Joseph Maruca and his wife, Becky, and Frank Maruca, all of Slickville; three grandchildren; a great-grandson; a sister; and two brothers.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Sylvester Catholic Church, Slickville. Interment will follow at Eastview Union Cemetery, Delmont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Slickville Civic Center, P.O. Box 207, Slickville, PA 15684.
Clement L. Pantalone Funeral Home, Greensburg, is in charge of arrangements.