Mary Catherine Sibley, 103, of Akron, OH and formerly of Gipsy and Clymer, PA, passed away on Friday, January 17, in Akron, Ohio. She was the seventh child of 13, born on February 15, 1916, to George and Veronica Yakimovicz in Arcadia, Pa. The family’s first child, Julia, died in infancy and two of the older girls became nuns, so Mary became her mother’s chief assistant, caring for the younger siblings. Mary was a cook and homemaker extraordinaire. While still a teen, she worked as a cook at the McGees Mills Hotel when coal mining was booming in this area. At 18, Mary was off to Philadelphia to work in a dental lab and to help with the doctor’s household.
She had known her husband, Steve Sibley, seven years her senior, growing up. They dated and especially enjoyed square dancing. They wed in 1938, and Mary dreamed of returning to Philadelphia where the dentist also had lined up a job for Steve. When his widowed father fell ill, Steve didn’t want to leave him in Gipsy, so Mary moved into their family home where her three brothers-in-law also lived. Mary assumed most household duties, and her dream was never realized about Philadelphia.
Mary spent her entire life in this area – Gipsy and Clymer – except the last three years. The Sibleys had a store on the main road near the house in Gipsy, and Mary helped when needed. She had four daughters – Kathryn, Joan, Veronica and Nancy – and was a grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 12. Mary also raised her nephew, Whitney Thibodoux, and three foster children, Almeda Myers, and Donna and Ruth Keller. Christa Small became her “special daughter,” and they looked after each other for a lifetime.
Mary was an active and devoted member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Glen Campbell, and after moving to Clymer 28 years ago, became a parishioner of Church of the Resurrection.
Mary was intelligent and intuitive, able to tackle any new project, and usually was successful. She was a fine seamstress, making most of her family’s clothes and later prom and wedding gowns for others, or mending items. Perhaps she inspired her late daughter, Joan (“Jeanie”), to pursue her fashion career in New York City. Mary was also active as a 4-H leader for many years, where she taught sewing skills to children and adults.
Mary was on the steering committee to convert the old Gipsy Elementary School into a senior center. It was dedicated in 1972 with State Senator Pat Stapleton presiding at the ceremony. She also served as its treasurer for many years.
Following her husband’s death in 1973, Mary took a job at Purchase Line High School as a cook. She came up with several innovative ideas, and they began making homemade bread at her suggestion. She especially enjoyed the camaraderie of her fellow cooks.
Mary and her husband Steve were very proud to be the first in their families to graduate from high school. Mary took it a big step further. She wanted her girls to have an education in case “something” happened, and they needed to support their families. Steve was old-school and thought it a waste to educate girls when they’d only marry and be homemakers. Mary’s actions were likely influenced by the early death of her uncle in the coal mines, leaving his widow with two young boys and little else.
In her years as a widow, Mary made more than 200 quilts and even designed her own quilting frame, began oil painting and made dolls. Many of those creations were given away to family and friends. She finally had time to read and enjoyed it immensely, often reading a book in a day – all subjects interested her. She was also an avid gardener, and her flowers often graced the altar at St. Michael’s. After several years, Mary gave up the Gipsy house and moved to senior housing in Clymer where she had many good friends, and the aroma of her cooking filled the air.
Mary was always busy, still making homemade bread, et cetera, at 100 years of age. Every Friday, she started the dough at 6 a.m. to be ready for noon lunch. You never went hungry in her house, and when she wasn’t sure what you liked, she simply made one of everything.
Mary lived with her daughter Nancy and her son-in-law John in Ohio for the past three years, and the family thanks them and are grateful for all they did. They also share their appreciation for her devoted aide Andrena Andrus, as well as the We Care group of Nativity of the Lord Jesus Church in Akron, Ohio, whose members regularly visited Mary in her last years.
The past year was hard, with more bad days than good ones. Mary remained mentally sharp and dreamed vividly of sewing, quilting and baking, frustrated at times because she could no longer do those things.
She loved cards and phone calls from her old friends, especially the Clymer ladies, Mary Lou, Dorie and Mary, as well as Christa Small. She was always interested in hearing the latest news on everyone.
Her family remembers Mary most for her generosity and kindness to others – always giving and rarely asking for anything. Many relatives left their children for periods at the Sibley house, and she cared for all of them like they were her own. She prayed the rosary daily until the end, and her family and friends are sure she has been welcomed by our Heavenly Father.
Mary is survived by her daughters Kathryn Hill (Jay) of Ashland, Ky., Veronica Kidd of Bethesda, Md., and Nancy Lenz (John) of Akron, Ohio. She was predeceased by her daughter Joan Powell of New York, N.Y., and sons-in-law Robert Kidd and Peter Powell.
Surviving grandchildren include Sharon Mayo, Elizabeth Hill and David Hill; Matthew Kidd, Katherine Owan and Patrick Kidd; Michael Lenz and Heather Lenz; and Gus Powell. She was predeceased by her grandson Peter Kidd. She is survived by 12 great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by one sister, Gertrude “Nancy” Nicholson of Indiana, Pa., and many nieces and nephews, including Whitney Thibodoux (Kathy) of St. Benedict, Pa.
Family and friends will be received from 2-4:00 and 6-8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020 at the Rairigh Funeral Home, Ltd in Hillsdale, PA. At 3:15 pm the Rosary Service will take place during the afternoon visitation. An 11:00 a.m. funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Church of the Resurrection in Glen Campbell, PA with Fr. James Morley as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Glen Campbell, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rosary Society of Glen Campbell Church, C/O Peggy Korney, 86 Brink Ln, Glen Campbell, Pa. 15742 or to the Westmoreland Blind Association, 911 S. Main St., Greensburg, Pa. 15601 in appreciation of use of a low vision reading machine that allowed Mary many happy hours of reading.
