Mary Jane Pleak

Mary Jane Pleak, age 89, of East Sixth Street, Emporium, died Monday, June 6, 2011, in Elk Regional Health Center, St. Marys.


Born October 12, 1921 in Port Allegany, she was the daughter of the late George and Ann Sullivan Holden. On June 28, 1947 in Coudersport she married Horace C. (Bud) Pleak who survives.

She was a US Navy veteran having served in the WAVES during WWI, officially the US Naval Reserve (Women’s Reserve) but the acronym from Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service is the recognizable name. Before her marriage she was employed as a secretary by Sylvania Electric in Emporium, and was later employed part time for attorney John Gresimer, also in Emporium.

Mrs. Pleak was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Emporium where she also served as secretary of the Cemetery Association for over 30 years. She was an avid bridge player and as a past member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Emporium Country Club she was the Thursday Bridge Club coordinator for many years and also taught many others the game.

Surviving in addition to her husband are: two sons, Robert G. (Joanne) Pleak of Salinas, CA, and Andrew Pleak of New York City; three daughters, Mary Ann Weber of Billings, MT, E. Jane Pleak-Alquist of Statesboro, GA, and George Ann Pleak of Emporium; three grandchildren, Kathleen (Betsy) Weber and Daniel Weber of Santa Barbara, CA and Jesse Weber of San Francisco, CA; and two sisters, Pauline Lewis at Pinecrest Manor in St. Marys and George Ann Holden at the Guy & Mary Felt Manor in Emporium.

Visitations with memorial tribute will be held Friday, June 10 from 4-7 p.m. in the Coppersmith-Condon Funeral Home, Emporium where a Wake Service will be held at 6:45 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mark Church with Father Paul Siebert, pastor, as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mark Cemetery, Emporium.

Military honors will be accorded by the Cameron County Memorial Detail.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Cameron County Ambulance Service or the Guy and Mary Felt Manor