Mar 28, 2018

Mary L. Gagich, 88, of Avella, passed away Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Premier Washington Health Center.

She was born May 18, 1929, in Wellsburg, W.Va., a daughter of the late Emile and Ethel Tredway Lerby.

Mrs. Gagich attended Bridgeville High School and worked as an aide for Avella School District for 13 years, retiring in 1981.

She was a member of Grove United Presbyterian Church of West Middletown and the church’s garden club.

Mrs. Gagich lived most of her life in Avella, and she enjoyed arranging flowers, flea markets and antiques.

Mrs. Gagich loved to spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On July 17, 1950, she married John Gagich Sr., who died February 7, 2016.

Surviving are a daughter, Marlene Vettorel of Meadowlands; two sons, John (Kim) Gagich Jr. of Follansbee, W.Va., and Terry L. (Susan) Gagich of Wellsburg, W.Va.; eight grandchildren, Robert (Tracy) Vettorel, Richard (Kyra) Vettorel, Rachelle Hergenroeder, Nathan (Nash) Gagich, Jonathan (Jessica) Gagich, Jeremy Gagich, Justin Gagich and Kaitlin Gagich; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Emile Lynn Lerby of Bloomingdale, Ohio, and Earnest Bert (Elma) Lerby of Washington.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 30, in Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., located at 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 31, with Pastor Dan Kraf officiating.

Burial will be in Independence Cemetery, Avella.

Memorial contributions can be made to Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Forbes Tower, Suite 8084, 3600 Forbes Avenue at Meyran Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Condolences may be expressed at www.stefkovichfuneralhome.com.