Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Friday, August 14, 2009

Remembering my Aunt Mary Stella Zagorsky Stitak of Lorain, Ohio

Click on title for link to Mary Stitak's Findagrave memorial:
This photograph above was taken around 1965, my Aunt Mary at left, and my mother with my dog "Teddy" being held by my father, Harry Limes, at our home around Christmas time - 208 Arizona Avenue, Lorain, Ohio. Our home was torn down in 2004 for the Harborwalk Development. My mother, Virginia Zagorsky Limes died on February 3, 1995 and my father, Harry Limes, died on March 22, 1988


This photograph above was taken around 1965 at my Aunt Mary's house on the corner of West 30th Street and Reid Avenue in Lorain, Ohio. My mother, Virginia Zagorsky Limes, was seated far left, then me (Linda), next to me is my father, Harry Limes, and seated far right was Aunt Mary's son and my cousin, John (Johnny) Stitak (May 6, 1941 - March 7, 2002). I think we all looked great in good old black and white!

This photograph above was taken on June 15, 2002 on the occasion of the wedding of my Aunt's Mary's grandson, Jason Stitak to Carol Langer. I am kneeling next to her. Aunt Mary was about a month shy of turning 90.
There has been some controversy over the years if my Aunt Mary was born on August 14 or August 15, however, my mother and my Aunt Irene both have insisted that their sister's birthday was August 14, so I have always considered her birthday to be August 14. She was baptized on September 1, 1912 at St. Stanislaus Church in Lorain, Ohio.

Below is from Mary Stitak's obituary:

Mary Stitak was a life long resident of Lorain.
Until her death she was a resident of Oak Hill Nursing Home, Lorain,Ohio.

Mary was a custodian for the Lorain School System for 21 years, retiring in 1977.
She was a homemaker, wonderful cook and baker. Mary enjoyed crafting including crocheting and making quilts, and especially creating beautiful ceramic pieces.
She was a member of the School Employees Retirement Organization, American Association of Retired Persons and Senior Citizens of Lorain, member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is Lorain,Ohio, and Mary was a former member of both Holy Trinity and St. John the Baptist Catholic Churches in Lorain.
At the time of her death, her son, Leonard Stitak of Lorain, survived her and several nieces and nephews.
Also surviving were sisters Irene Ferner (Floyd) of Elyria, and Theresa Lieb (Brendon) of Lorain,Ohio, and 3 grandchildren(2009). (Theresa Lieb passed away on July 12, 2007.)
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Stitak, sons, Gerald Stitak (who died December 31, 1939), and John Stitak (who died March 7, 2002).
Mary Stitak's parents were Andrew and Josephine Szczepankiewicz Zagorsky. Her brothers were: Joseph, Frank, Edward, Alex, Floyd, and Stanley, all deceased.
At the time of her death, Mary's deceased sisters: Helen Hendry (David) and Virginia Limes (Harry) of Lorain, Ohio.
Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain, Ohio.