Shirley Ann Rakoczy Przywara

Born April 9, 1938, in Windber, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Vince) Rakoczy and the 2nd of 5 children. An older sister Helen, 2 younger sisters Emma & Betty and 1 brother John. Shirley grew up in Mine 30 surrounded by many Rakoczy relatives. She attended Scalp Level School (Hoffman Ave/Center St.) and Winder High School. She was a proud Rambler from the Class of 1956, where she performed as a majorette. After graduation she moved to Michigan following her older sister Helen to begin working at Ford Motor Co. Their sister Emma would soon follow as well. The sisters lived in an apartment in Michigan for a short time but eventually their father purchased a house in Lincoln Park, MI on Monte street. The sisters lived here until each got married and their brother John moved into the house with his family.

Shirley started her career as a stenographer but quickly moved up to Secretary A. In 1976 she was appointed to the NAAO Public Relations Office under beloved boss John Sattler (Author - "50 Years Ahead of the News") to begin planning Ford's 75th Anniversary. She would work in Broadcast News, Ford 2000, Public Affairs and Ford Motorsports. She was a devoted employee. Co-workers called her Sarge. Anne Doyle (Michigan Journalist Hall of Fame & Author of Powering Up!), a friend and boss said of Shirley "Shirley's blood ran deep Ford blue. She held herself and others to very high professional standards. She made hundreds of Ford Public Affairs professionals and Ford Executives look good. Any document the crossed her desk didn't leave it until the spelling, punctuation and formatting were absolutely perfect. She knew exactly how to get things done because she understood how the Ford machine worked. She also was one of the world's great friends and grandmothers." A highlight in Shirley's career would come in 1992 when she was asked to help welcome the Hungarian Ambassador, Andre Erdos and his wife Kati Erdos, when they attended the Hungarian flag raising ceremony at Ford World Headquarters.

It was after work one night when Shirley stopped at Angelo's Pizzeria on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn where she met Phil Przywara. They married in 1964 and bought a house in Westland MI. Sadly, their first daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was stillborn on Valentine’s Day 1965. How society and the medical profession respond to families who lose a baby today is so different than how it was in the 60s. It wasn’t talked about and certainly mothers did not get to see or hold their baby. They buried Elizabeth in the ‘infant’ section of St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn, MI. The story goes that the priest carried her casket under his arm as they walked to the gravesite. Shirley’s mother, before returning to PA after the funeral, felt that Shirley was going to need help for many years and asked Shirley’s sisters to look out for her. Thankfully, in 1971 Phil & Shirley would have another daughter Pamela Sue. The family of 3 would travel to Florida, California even a very memorable Houseboat trip to Lake Mead, NV with Helen and her family. It was on this trip that Shirley celebrated her 41st bday. Around 1979 the family would purchase a second home in northern Michigan. The boxy, yellow with white trim cottage on Birch St. near West Twin Lake in Lewiston would become the sanctuary of the family. Spending all holidays and two weekends a month traveling the 4 hours north of Westland. Family and friends were invited in the summer for the lake and invited in the winter to snowmobile. There were so many family members there one summer that some slept on beach chairs. Unfortunately, Shirley & Phil would divorce in 1984. Shirley went through a very dark period but leaned on her family and her Catholic faith and she persevered. Shirley and Pam became close but also very typical mom/teenage daughter dynamic. They would travel to Hawaii, California, the Bahamas and even London & Paris. They would often spend their weekends with sister Emmie's family in Chelsea or sister Betty's family in Milford. Shirley traveled back to Windber often. To visit family, class reunions or just for fun. Roll modeling for her daughter a sense of pride for family, family history, and for her Hungarian/coal mining/Windber roots.

Shirley would live in the Westland house until 1999ish moving after the wedding of her daughter in 1998. She also decided to officially stop working and moved for a short time to Canton, MI. In 2001 her first Grandson Scott was born. In 2002 her second Grandson Stephen was born. In 2004 her first and only Granddaughter Samantha was born. Last was Grandson Alex in 2006. Shirley was instrumental in the raising of her Grandchildren. So much so that she moved to the town where her daughter lived to lend a hand. Affectionately known as Mimi, she would keep one or two for the night, take them shopping or for ice cream, all the while leaving an indelible imprint on their young hearts. Sharing her Hungarian heritage, music and food.

Shirley cherished her grandchildren, but Windber was always in her heart. She often said that even though she lived in PA for only 18 years Windber would always be her home. So, in 2010 she moved back to her hometown. She moved into an apartment in Mine 30 at Hoffman Ave. She loved reconnecting with family and former classmates. Especially her Aunt Ruth Rakoczy (2nd wife of Uncle Steve Rakoczy). She got involved with the Arcadia Theatre Guild, the Windber Hall of Fame, the Windber Coal Museum and founded William Penn Association Branch 59.

July 1st Shirley went into Windber hospital for a simple procedure. She was not recovering well so they admitted her for the night. Her blood pressure began to drop and they transported her to Johnstown. On July 6th, after her daughter drove from Michigan and with three siblings at her side she passed away. Her funeral was held at Elizabeth Ann Seton where her sister-in-law Ursula Rakoczy gave the eulogy. Family members came from all over the country. Including her godson Paul Lombardi Jr. and her former sister-in-law and brother-in-law Paul & Joan Lombardi from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Nephews from Florida, a niece from California and many cousins from Ohio. In a touching tribute her co-volunteers at the Arcadia Theatre were all matching in their brown volunteer vests and nametags. A few weeks later a Michigan funeral would be held at Holy Cross Hungarian Church in Detroit. Friar Barnabas G. Kiss, OFM, a good friend of Shirley’s, would preside. Two nieces, Jamie & Diana Ferriss, would deliver the eulogy. And a celebration of life would be held at The Hungarian Rhapsody. The following summer, 2013, a small graveside ceremony would be held at St. Mary’s Hungarian Cemetery to bury Shirley’s remains. A small cremation vault etched with her name of span of life, stuffed with letters of love from her daughter, grandchildren and nieces, would be placed below the grave marker of her parents. If you knew Shirley, you knew there was no other place on earth as special as the hills of Windber.

Shirley was a force. She often said what she felt and stood by what she said. Her nieces, Jamie & Diana, during the eulogy at her funeral claimed “if she liked you, you knew it. If she didn’t, you knew that too.” Family was everything. She came to your aid if needed, she was there for high & lows and made a point to remain in close connection with extended family like aunts, uncles and cousins. She was well known throughout the family and often even knew friends of family members because she always showed up and she was an unforgettable person. Serving as the Matriarch she was most often the driving force behind the annual Rakoczy reunions where she beamed with pride as everyone gathered. She loved bringing us all together. Words cannot convey the hole created by her absence.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, her niece Carol Bollinger of California, and her beloved cousin Steve Beretsel of PA who passed away a few months before Shirley.

RAKOCZI's of WINDBER

Agnes Pittner, moved to Windber from Passaic, NJ after working in the Botany Worsted Mill and a short marriage to Frank Bauer. After the death of her husband she moved to be with her mother Mary Pendle. Family lore says Frank Rakoczi was a border in Mary's home and that's how Frank & Agnes met. After Frank and Agnes wed they settled in Mine 30 and would have 6 children. Frank 1907, John 1909 (Shirley's father), Margaret 1911, Thomas 1913, Mary 1915 and Stephen 1918. Frank was a coal miner and several of his sons would become coal miners as well. Around 1920 the family would travel to Kiralydaroc, Hungary (present day Craidorolt, Romania), Frank's birth place, to "sell the family farm".* They returned just a few years later. The six Rakoczi siblings would all marry and begin to raise their families in Windber allowing the Rakoczy cousins to grow up side by side. Frank would pass away in 1937 and Agnes would eventually move in with her daughter Mary and her family in Mine 30. Frank Jr. and Thomas would however, move their families to Cleveland sometime in the late 1930s/very early 1940s. Agnes would pass away in 1952. These 6 siblings, along with their parents and their wives, are buried in this same cemetery. Frank & Rose (Ishwack), Margaret & Mike Makoczy, Thomas & Margaret (Vince), Mary & Steve Beretsel and Steve & Betty (Golish). Frank Jr. & Rose's 4yr old Agnes is also laid to rest here. Meaning 4 generations lived, worked and died in Winder. Furthermore, Agnes' mother Mary Waldroff Pittner Pendle is buried in the most northwest corner.

*see photo of Shirley's daughter Pam & niece Heather at the Rakoczi home in Craidrolt, Romania