Obituary of Mary E. Vanek

Mary E. (Maxian) Vanek, 95, of Binghamton, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home on Thursday, March 22, 2001. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Peter L.; her parents, Michael J. and Eva Maxian; nine brothers, Joseph, Matthew, Michael, John, Leo, Andrew, Steve, Peter, Frank; four sisters, Anna Moleski, Eva Schweizer, Helen McGuire and Irene Feheley. She is survived by her three children, son, Richard Vanek, San Diego; daughter, Maxine and husband, Ray Welch, Endwell; and daughter, Linda McColgin, Johnson City; 10 grandchildren, Stephen Schad, Syracuse, Katrina and husband, Craig Shallahamer, Lake Forest, Oreg., Cheryl and husband, Douglas Layman, Vista, Calif., Marcia and husband, Jeffrey Lewis, Newhall, Calif., Peter Vanek and fiance, Rashmi Kini, Irvine, Calif., Kim Konecny and wife, Roberta, Binghamton, Holly Konecny, Tetonia, Idaho, Heidi Piechnik and husband, Terry, Endwell, Kyle Konecny and wife, Eileen, Endicott, Elizabeth Bachura and husband, John, Johnson City; 10 great-grandchildren, Annalisa and Gabrielle Shallahamer, Janel and Joel Layman, Kayne and Krystle Konecny, Loren and Rene Piechnik, Dylan Konecny and Tyler Plew; many loving nieces, nephews, and devoted friends, especially Joyce Thomas. The family offers special thanks to aide Lori Knapick, who together with granddaughters Elizabeth and Roberta, gave Mother such faithful, tender care. Mary was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Church, Binghamton, for over 65 years, and its Altar and Rosary Society. She worked at Endicott-Johnson as a young girl, at Remington Rand during the war, at Spaulding's Bakery, then several years in Fowler's sportswear department before retiring to tend her beloved home and little garden. Mary was a gracious hostess. She set a lovely and abundant table and guests rarely left her home without a bag of sugar or molasses cookies, a piece of apple pie, or a jar of her bread and butter pickles. Mary was proud of her farming roots and family, we will miss her sharing fond memories of growing up on the M.J. Maxian & Sons fruit farm. Funeral services will be held at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main St., Binghamton, Monday, at 9:30 a.m., and at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, where a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will be in Slovak Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the McCormack Funeral Home Sunday, from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Mary's name may be made to St. John the Evangelist Renovation Fund, 1263 Vestal Avenue, Binghamton, N.Y. 13903, or Hospice Program, c/o Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 169 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, N.Y. 13905.