Rose (Stanley) Salak

Rose (Stanley) Salak, 87, of Meadville, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Rolling Fields.

She was born September 15, 1931 at Kaylor Pump Station near East Brady, PA, a daughter of Odie and Mary Baxter Stanley the youngest of seven children.  She attended a one room school for her first 8 grades.  As she was promoted and advanced through the grades she was an assistant to her teacher with the younger students in lower grades.  Upon completion of 8th grade, she went on to her freshman year in high school at Kittanning Junior Senior High.  Due to school district realignment, she then went to and graduated from East Brady High School in 1949 in the upper third of her class where she was class president.  Rose subsequently graduated from Butler Business College.

She was employed for a short time at the Butler Veterans Hospital and thereafter as a bookkeeper and accountant for Wick’s International Farm Implements for four years until which time she married John S. Salak from the Cowansville/Sherret, PA area on October 22, 1955.  Having lived for a short period in Butler, they moved to Kittanning where her husband was employed.  While living in Kittanning for ten years, she and her husband John became the parents of daughter Kathleen in 1959 and son Mark in 1960.  In the early 1960's John made an occupational change and entered into a career with the Nationwide Insurance Companies that brought them to Meadville in 1965.  In 1969, John established his own business opening an insurance agency with Nationwide.  Rose worked in his office as secretary/treasurer until their retirement in February 1996.

An active member of St. Brigid Church and its Altar Rosary Society, Rose’s other interests and activities consisted of being a member of the Lioness Club, division of the Lions Club International, member and instructor of Weight Watchers, Kittanning Jayceettes, Meadville Welcome Wagon, square dancing, playing bridge, golfing, bowling, biking, and loved traveling with John.  They took trips to Hawaii, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, and Bermuda.

Survivors, in addition to her loving husband John of 63 years, include a daughter, Kathleen Wiggins (Leonard) of Belpre, OH and their children, Heather, Selena, and Corey and a son, Mark Salak (Kristen Miller) of Hyde Park, NY and children, Andrea Salak-Gerardi and Ivan Miller.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.

Calling hours will be Thursday, December 27th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Brigid Church, 383 Arch St., Meadville with a Rosary service at 12:30 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, December 27th at 1:00 p.m. at St. Brigid Church with Fr. Jeffrey Lucas as Celebrant.

Interment will be in St. Brigid Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Brigid Church, c/o Catholic Community of Meadville, 353 Pine St., Meadville Public Library, 848 N. Main St., or Southern Care Hospice, 1245 Park Ave., all of Meadville, PA 16335.

The family wishes to extend appreciation to the staff at Rolling Fields Eldercare Community for their wonderful care and support.

The arrangements have been entrusted to the ROBERT W. WAID FUNERAL HOME, 581 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE where memories and condolence may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net.