Mary Margaret Abrashoff died on July 27, 2024. Mary was born in Altoona, Pa on May 24, 1922. She was the daughter of James J. and Elizabeth (Canole) McFadden who proceeds her in death along with her brother James J. McFadden.
Mary graduated from Altoona Senior High School in 1940. She then enrolled in the Indiana State Teacher’s College to become a business teacher. In 1942, she took a leave from college and worked the night shift as a switch operator at Slope Tower in Altoona. She was part of a group of women who worked on the railroad during World War II. Once the war ended, she went back to Indiana and completed her bachelor’s degree in education. Her first teaching job was at Gallitzin High School and then taught at Bellwood High School. She finished her teaching career from the Altoona Area School District in June of 1986 with thirty years of teaching. She was one of the first computer teachers in the Altoona School District.
She married the love of her life Donald Abrashoff on November 25, 1948, in Our Lady Lourdes Catholic Church. They were married for fifty-five years before his passing on May 12, 2003. Together they had seven children. Mary Parsons (Bill), Anne Kowatch (Paul), Connie Bentzen (Craig), Donna Schutte (Richard), Margaret Swoboda (Douglas), Michael Abrashoff and Daniel Abrashoff (Audrey).
She was a loving grandmother to thirteen grandchildren. Christopher Parsons (Tera), Matthew Parsons (Claire), Benjamin Kowatch (Jessica), Alexandra Kowatch, Craig Bentzen (Stephanie), Catherine Bentzen, Ryan Schutte (Soleil), Marissa Schutte, Abbie Swoboda Canale (Salvatore), Douglas Swoboda, Alexander Abrashoff, Samuel Abrashoff and Riley Abrashoff.
She also had eleven great-grandchildren. Josephine, Juliette and Violet Parsons. Emilia and Adelaide Parsons, Caroline and Meredith Kowatch, Thorvald Bentzen, Selene Schutte, Amelia and Maximillian Canale.
Mary was an eighty-year member of the Altoona Story League. She was a former secretary of the Horseshoe Seniors and Golden Nuggets Dance clubs. She was a member of the Blair County Chapter of the PA Association of the School Retirees and the AAHS Alumni Association. She was a charter member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and a member of the Christian Mothers Club.
Following her husband’s death, she moved to State College in 2008 to be closer to family. She became a member of the Ferguson Township Garden Club, the Centre Pieces Quilt Guild, served on the hospitality committee for the Westway Gardens Condo Association and was a member of Victory Sports. She was also a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and the Catholic Daughters of America. Her hobbies included writing daily emails to her friends and family, riding her bike, gardening and getting a coffee and scone at Good Day Café.
Mary lived a wonderful life in her super senior years. The family would like to thank her caregivers: Linda, Flora, Happy, Selena, Susan, Kathy and Martha.
Funeral arrangements: Koch Funeral Home – 2401 South Atherton Street, State College, Pa 16801. Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, from 6-8 P.M. Burial mass will be on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 9:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Garden of Angels Mausoleum – 2417 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, Pa 16601.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the State College Area Meals on Wheels – P.O. Box1235, State College, Pa 16804 or the Ferguson Township Garden Club – Attn: Rosalie Bloom-Brooks – 812 West Beaver Avenue, State College, Pa 16801.