Obituary for Marion A. Prugar (Nakoski)
Marion A. Nakoski Prugar, 89, formerly of Erie, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 5, 2021, at Courtyard Gardens in Jupiter, FL, surrounded by her children. She was born in French Creek, NY, on October 20, 1932, a beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Visosky Nakoski.
Marion graduated from Clymer High School at the age of 16. Over the years, she worked in a variety of positions at Hammermill Paper Company, Hamot Medical Center, Housing and Neighborhood Development Service ( H.A.N.D.S), and as an office manager with Hand and Arthritis Rehabilitation Center, Inc. and Hand, Microsurgery and Reconstructive Orthopaedics until her retirement. In between, she helped open, manage, and waitress at El Poocho’s Lounge, Julio’s Den, and Greg’s Place in Erie. Well into her seventies, Marion continued to hostess and waitress at various diners in Florida, “just to stay busy.”
She was a faithful member of St. Matthias Catholic Church in Clymer, NY, and the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lake Worth, Florida. As a parent, she valued religious education and provided for Catholic schooling for all her children at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Erie.
She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved spending time with her family. Her grandchildren affectionately called her “Grandma Country” as she especially enjoyed gardening and being outdoors in the countryside. She liked carrying on the traditions of a farmhouse upbringing and all the canning and baking that went along with feeding a large family. She was always active, never sat still, and famously only needed a 20-minute power nap. She was fond of card playing, bingo, travel and often went on road trips to the casino. She was one of the luckiest persons we knew!
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Edward J. Prugar, and her great-granddaughter, Olivia Schmidt.
Survivors include two sons, Joseph Prugar and his wife Maryann, of Ashtabula, OH, Thomas Prugar and his wife Mary, of York, ME, three daughters, Elaine Diloreto, of Jupiter, FL, Cindy Schmidt, of Erie, PA., Anne Ellig, of Vero Beach, and 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Theodore Nakoski and his wife Bonna of Syracuse, NY, one sister, Celia Dendler and her husband Albert of Hudson, FL, and her companion and golf partner John Ratigan of Gillette, NJ.
She will never be forgotten and always missed.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 1762 French Creek Mina Rd, Clymer, NY 14724 on Saturday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Matthias Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Clymer Volunteer Fire Dept. 8756 West Main Street, Clymer, NY 14724 or St. Matthias Church.
Please visit www.SchmidtFuneralHomeErie.com to sign the Book of Memories
Marion graduated from Clymer High School at the age of 16. Over the years, she worked in a variety of positions at Hammermill Paper Company, Hamot Medical Center, Housing and Neighborhood Development Service ( H.A.N.D.S), and as an office manager with Hand and Arthritis Rehabilitation Center, Inc. and Hand, Microsurgery and Reconstructive Orthopaedics until her retirement. In between, she helped open, manage, and waitress at El Poocho’s Lounge, Julio’s Den, and Greg’s Place in Erie. Well into her seventies, Marion continued to hostess and waitress at various diners in Florida, “just to stay busy.”
She was a faithful member of St. Matthias Catholic Church in Clymer, NY, and the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lake Worth, Florida. As a parent, she valued religious education and provided for Catholic schooling for all her children at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Erie.
She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved spending time with her family. Her grandchildren affectionately called her “Grandma Country” as she especially enjoyed gardening and being outdoors in the countryside. She liked carrying on the traditions of a farmhouse upbringing and all the canning and baking that went along with feeding a large family. She was always active, never sat still, and famously only needed a 20-minute power nap. She was fond of card playing, bingo, travel and often went on road trips to the casino. She was one of the luckiest persons we knew!
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Edward J. Prugar, and her great-granddaughter, Olivia Schmidt.
Survivors include two sons, Joseph Prugar and his wife Maryann, of Ashtabula, OH, Thomas Prugar and his wife Mary, of York, ME, three daughters, Elaine Diloreto, of Jupiter, FL, Cindy Schmidt, of Erie, PA., Anne Ellig, of Vero Beach, and 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Theodore Nakoski and his wife Bonna of Syracuse, NY, one sister, Celia Dendler and her husband Albert of Hudson, FL, and her companion and golf partner John Ratigan of Gillette, NJ.
She will never be forgotten and always missed.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 1762 French Creek Mina Rd, Clymer, NY 14724 on Saturday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Matthias Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Clymer Volunteer Fire Dept. 8756 West Main Street, Clymer, NY 14724 or St. Matthias Church.
Please visit www.SchmidtFuneralHomeErie.com to sign the Book of Memories