Mary Adams

Mary Anna Adams (nee Vanca) was featured in the 1932 edition of the Youngstown Vindicator when she celebrated her 4th birthday as her first birthday, having been born Leap Year, February 29, 1928. Her parents were Helen Mary Vanca (nee Nalepa) and John Leroy Vanca of Pennsylvania. Mary Anna was born at home on McGuffy Road in Youngstown, Ohio. At the age of 14, and to help her family when her father became ill, she went to work at Kline's Department Store, employed in the shoe department. She then attended East High School, member of the National Honor Society, and graduated in 1946. The following Monday, following graduation ceremonies, she began her new job at the Islay's Dairy Company where, she not only worked in the office, and also was chosen to model in ads that marketed the company's ice cream.

Mary Anna attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church then Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Youngstown, the latter a Slovak Parish. (Mary Anna was very proud of her Slovak heritage.) Mary Anna performed on stage at the church's fundraising events and later sang in choirs and, for over twenty years, sang second soprano in the choir at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

During her 67-year marriage to Louis William Adams Sr., she resided in Youngstown, Ohio; Mantua, Ohio; Middletown, New Jersey; Fairfax, Virginia; Bolingbrook, Illinois, and then Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Mary Anna was a member of: The Western Reserve Herb Society and also the Western Reserve Woman's Republican Club. She had a favorite recipe published, "Mary Anna Adams' Golden Meatball Bake." An avid gardener, she specialized in growing an assortment of herbs, vegetables, and orchids. She also volunteered at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

During her marriage, they raised three sons and one daughter: Louis Adams, Jr., Michael Adams (Beth Land), Philip Adams (Kimberlee Smith), and Mary Lou (nee Adams) (Frank Budziak.) There are four grandchildren: Laura Adams, Helen Budziak (Nick Costakis), Louis Budziak, and Marianne Budziak. There is one step-granddaughter, Kara Elizabeth Quick (nee Land), (Jason Quick), and step-great-grandson Kyle Quick.

Mary Anna's husband passed away July of this year. Mary Anna had one brother and three sisters: John P. Vanca Sr., deceased; Delores "Dolly" Wilcox (nee Vanca), deceased; Ursula Jean Brown (nee Vanca), deceased; and Theresa Bednar (nee Vanca), residing in southern Ohio.

A Funeral Mass will be held at the Church of St. Dominic, 19000 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Hts., OH on Monday, November 6th at 10 AM. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD, SHAKER HTS., OH, ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH FROM 2-4PM. Interment, Riverside Cemetery.