Anna H. Pack 1914-2014
Anna Helen Krempasky Pack was my mother-in-law. She passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 with her family nearby. She was barely 4'11" tall and weighed so little her grandchildren could pick her up but she was the matriarch of the family – and everybody knew it. She lived a long and healthy life – she would have been 100 years old next month. It's hard to believe that she will no longer be at the head of the table at family gatherings. She handled that job with great dignity and love for so many years and we will miss her beyond words.
She was born February 24, 1914, in Youngstown, Ohio. She was the daughter of the late Martin and Kathryn Krempasky. Anna's generation was the first born Americans within this family. She was one of five children – all having preceded her in death - two brothers, Martin and Steve Krempasky; and two sisters, Julia Mraz and Kathryn Mraz - Julia & Kathryn having married brothers. I remember wonderful family parties with Auntie Julia, Auntie Kathryn, cousin Ritchie and Dorothy. Ritchie and Dorothy were Kathryn's children – Julia had none. To know each of these women and their capabilities to prepare incredible food for family get-togethers has been a most interesting experience. It all seemed to come together for each family gathering – the food, the card games and the laughter that could be heard well into the night.
On June 4, 1935 Anna married William Vincent "Bill" Pack (Pacek). Bill was the son of Matthew and Anna Floch Pacek. Both sets of parents - Martin and Kathryn and Matthew and Anna were born in Czechoslovakia so my mother-in law's family carried many of the old world traditions and values into the raising of their sons. This not only included the food that would be served at family celebrations - but the celebrations themselves. Christmas, Thanksgiving and weddings was a mixture of old world food, music and many times dancing. No one in the family ever wanted to miss these family functions. It is truly a great family to belong to.
Anna & Bill moved to the Howland area in 1947 where they operated a combination grocery-gas station and curb service restaurant at Howland Corners. When she was not serving food, she was outside pumping gas into the vehicles of her customers. I have a wonderful old picture of her doing this. She wore a skirt and high heels – a business lady did not wear jeans or tennis shoes back in those days.
In 1957, they built a new store located in Howland, which they operated until the early 1970s. This is where they lived when my husband, Raymond (Anna and Bill's first born son) took me to visit his parents and meet the rest of the family in 1963. I was still a teenager so this was truly a new experience for me. I couldn't believe the wonderful food and all of the merchandise in that little corner building that not only housed a store but three young men along with Anna and Bill. There was no getting lonesome or becoming bored in that house. There was always something to do or someone to talk to.
For most of the 51 years that I knew my mother-in-law, there are a few things she taught me that makes me smile when I think of them. How to make a salad, always put a slice of American cheese in your mashed potatoes, that the soft drink Tab could actually be tolerated if there was nothing else to drink, how to iron my husband's white shirts in less than 3 minutes, that Ponds was the best face cream for young women and many secrets about my husband. I love her for all of her wisdom, especially the tips on how to handle your husband. I used them all.
Anna was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, St. Vincent de Paul, and had been in the Altar and Rosary Society for more than 60 years. There were several things that she especially loved in addition to her time with the church. She loved to go bowling and she loved reading romance novels – holding the book with one hand and eating from the bag of potato chips she kept hidden behind the couch with the other hand. She kept the chips hidden because her husband used to yell at her every time he saw her eating "that junk", as he called it. Crossword puzzles, traveling, playing cards and spending time with her family, especially her three granddaughters, was a favorite time for her. She loved taking them with her to play Bingo. It was always great fun listening to their stories when they returned home – sometimes with their winnings which she kept hidden away in her "special place" for future spending.
All three of her granddaughters tried to learn her cooking techniques – each one having specific recipes they tried to duplicate, especially her Slovak pastries and stuffed cabbage rolls. She prepared Sunday dinners and played scrabble well into her 90s. Her sons, both Davey and Donnie would come to see her each day and spend time playing games with her and sometimes just sitting and talking or watching TV together. I know how much they will miss this.
Anna leaves behind her two sons, Donald of Cortland and David Allan Pack of Howland. Her granddaughter Heidi Hall lives in Nashville, TN., while Melissa Pack, and Kristin (Brian) Pishotti both live in the Warren area along with her gr-grandchildren Mario and Mia Pishotti of Warren; her first gr-grandchild, James Alexander Hall of Nashville, TN., and her daughter-in-law, Willi Pack-Anderson also of Nashville, TN. We will miss her smile and her conversations in Slovak when she didn't especially want the grandchildren to know what she was saying. She was such an important part of our family.
Anna lost her husband, Bill who passed away September 20, 2005, and her first born son, Raymond, who was killed in a tragic auto accident on February 26, 1988. Losing these two important people in her life took its toll on her and the rest of the family. I don't think she ever completely got over losing either one of them.
A Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Thomas Eisweirth officiating this sad gathering.
Saying ‘goodbye' to the people we love is never easy. However, there is some peace to be had by the family when we know in our hearts that not only are our loved ones in a good place now, but that we will all be together again someday. What a peaceful, joyous feeling this is.
Anna was buried right where she wanted to be - next to her husband in All Souls Cemetery in Cortland, Ohio.
Anna Helen Krempasky Pack was my mother-in-law. She passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 with her family nearby. She was barely 4'11" tall and weighed so little her grandchildren could pick her up but she was the matriarch of the family – and everybody knew it. She lived a long and healthy life – she would have been 100 years old next month. It's hard to believe that she will no longer be at the head of the table at family gatherings. She handled that job with great dignity and love for so many years and we will miss her beyond words.
She was born February 24, 1914, in Youngstown, Ohio. She was the daughter of the late Martin and Kathryn Krempasky. Anna's generation was the first born Americans within this family. She was one of five children – all having preceded her in death - two brothers, Martin and Steve Krempasky; and two sisters, Julia Mraz and Kathryn Mraz - Julia & Kathryn having married brothers. I remember wonderful family parties with Auntie Julia, Auntie Kathryn, cousin Ritchie and Dorothy. Ritchie and Dorothy were Kathryn's children – Julia had none. To know each of these women and their capabilities to prepare incredible food for family get-togethers has been a most interesting experience. It all seemed to come together for each family gathering – the food, the card games and the laughter that could be heard well into the night.
On June 4, 1935 Anna married William Vincent "Bill" Pack (Pacek). Bill was the son of Matthew and Anna Floch Pacek. Both sets of parents - Martin and Kathryn and Matthew and Anna were born in Czechoslovakia so my mother-in law's family carried many of the old world traditions and values into the raising of their sons. This not only included the food that would be served at family celebrations - but the celebrations themselves. Christmas, Thanksgiving and weddings was a mixture of old world food, music and many times dancing. No one in the family ever wanted to miss these family functions. It is truly a great family to belong to.
Anna & Bill moved to the Howland area in 1947 where they operated a combination grocery-gas station and curb service restaurant at Howland Corners. When she was not serving food, she was outside pumping gas into the vehicles of her customers. I have a wonderful old picture of her doing this. She wore a skirt and high heels – a business lady did not wear jeans or tennis shoes back in those days.
In 1957, they built a new store located in Howland, which they operated until the early 1970s. This is where they lived when my husband, Raymond (Anna and Bill's first born son) took me to visit his parents and meet the rest of the family in 1963. I was still a teenager so this was truly a new experience for me. I couldn't believe the wonderful food and all of the merchandise in that little corner building that not only housed a store but three young men along with Anna and Bill. There was no getting lonesome or becoming bored in that house. There was always something to do or someone to talk to.
For most of the 51 years that I knew my mother-in-law, there are a few things she taught me that makes me smile when I think of them. How to make a salad, always put a slice of American cheese in your mashed potatoes, that the soft drink Tab could actually be tolerated if there was nothing else to drink, how to iron my husband's white shirts in less than 3 minutes, that Ponds was the best face cream for young women and many secrets about my husband. I love her for all of her wisdom, especially the tips on how to handle your husband. I used them all.
Anna was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, St. Vincent de Paul, and had been in the Altar and Rosary Society for more than 60 years. There were several things that she especially loved in addition to her time with the church. She loved to go bowling and she loved reading romance novels – holding the book with one hand and eating from the bag of potato chips she kept hidden behind the couch with the other hand. She kept the chips hidden because her husband used to yell at her every time he saw her eating "that junk", as he called it. Crossword puzzles, traveling, playing cards and spending time with her family, especially her three granddaughters, was a favorite time for her. She loved taking them with her to play Bingo. It was always great fun listening to their stories when they returned home – sometimes with their winnings which she kept hidden away in her "special place" for future spending.
All three of her granddaughters tried to learn her cooking techniques – each one having specific recipes they tried to duplicate, especially her Slovak pastries and stuffed cabbage rolls. She prepared Sunday dinners and played scrabble well into her 90s. Her sons, both Davey and Donnie would come to see her each day and spend time playing games with her and sometimes just sitting and talking or watching TV together. I know how much they will miss this.
Anna leaves behind her two sons, Donald of Cortland and David Allan Pack of Howland. Her granddaughter Heidi Hall lives in Nashville, TN., while Melissa Pack, and Kristin (Brian) Pishotti both live in the Warren area along with her gr-grandchildren Mario and Mia Pishotti of Warren; her first gr-grandchild, James Alexander Hall of Nashville, TN., and her daughter-in-law, Willi Pack-Anderson also of Nashville, TN. We will miss her smile and her conversations in Slovak when she didn't especially want the grandchildren to know what she was saying. She was such an important part of our family.
Anna lost her husband, Bill who passed away September 20, 2005, and her first born son, Raymond, who was killed in a tragic auto accident on February 26, 1988. Losing these two important people in her life took its toll on her and the rest of the family. I don't think she ever completely got over losing either one of them.
A Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Thomas Eisweirth officiating this sad gathering.
Saying ‘goodbye' to the people we love is never easy. However, there is some peace to be had by the family when we know in our hearts that not only are our loved ones in a good place now, but that we will all be together again someday. What a peaceful, joyous feeling this is.
Anna was buried right where she wanted to be - next to her husband in All Souls Cemetery in Cortland, Ohio.
Anna H. Pack 1914-2014
Anna Helen Krempasky Pack was my mother-in-law. She passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 with her family nearby. She was barely 4'11" tall and weighed so little her grandchildren could pick her up but she was the matriarch of the family – and everybody knew it. She lived a long and healthy life – she would have been 100 years old next month. It's hard to believe that she will no longer be at the head of the table at family gatherings. She handled that job with great dignity and love for so many years and we will miss her beyond words.
She was born February 24, 1914, in Youngstown, Ohio. She was the daughter of the late Martin and Kathryn Krempasky. Anna's generation was the first born Americans within this family. She was one of five children – all having preceded her in death - two brothers, Martin and Steve Krempasky; and two sisters, Julia Mraz and Kathryn Mraz - Julia & Kathryn having married brothers. I remember wonderful family parties with Auntie Julia, Auntie Kathryn, cousin Ritchie and Dorothy. Ritchie and Dorothy were Kathryn's children – Julia had none. To know each of these women and their capabilities to prepare incredible food for family get-togethers has been a most interesting experience. It all seemed to come together for each family gathering – the food, the card games and the laughter that could be heard well into the night.
On June 4, 1935 Anna married William Vincent "Bill" Pack (Pacek). Bill was the son of Matthew and Anna Floch Pacek. Both sets of parents - Martin and Kathryn and Matthew and Anna were born in Czechoslovakia so my mother-in law's family carried many of the old world traditions and values into the raising of their sons. This not only included the food that would be served at family celebrations - but the celebrations themselves. Christmas, Thanksgiving and weddings was a mixture of old world food, music and many times dancing. No one in the family ever wanted to miss these family functions. It is truly a great family to belong to.
Anna & Bill moved to the Howland area in 1947 where they operated a combination grocery-gas station and curb service restaurant at Howland Corners. When she was not serving food, she was outside pumping gas into the vehicles of her customers. I have a wonderful old picture of her doing this. She wore a skirt and high heels – a business lady did not wear jeans or tennis shoes back in those days.
In 1957, they built a new store located in Howland, which they operated until the early 1970s. This is where they lived when my husband, Raymond (Anna and Bill's first born son) took me to visit his parents and meet the rest of the family in 1963. I was still a teenager so this was truly a new experience for me. I couldn't believe the wonderful food and all of the merchandise in that little corner building that not only housed a store but three young men along with Anna and Bill. There was no getting lonesome or becoming bored in that house. There was always something to do or someone to talk to.
For most of the 51 years that I knew my mother-in-law, there are a few things she taught me that makes me smile when I think of them. How to make a salad, always put a slice of American cheese in your mashed potatoes, that the soft drink Tab could actually be tolerated if there was nothing else to drink, how to iron my husband's white shirts in less than 3 minutes, that Ponds was the best face cream for young women and many secrets about my husband. I love her for all of her wisdom, especially the tips on how to handle your husband. I used them all.
Anna was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, St. Vincent de Paul, and had been in the Altar and Rosary Society for more than 60 years. There were several things that she especially loved in addition to her time with the church. She loved to go bowling and she loved reading romance novels – holding the book with one hand and eating from the bag of potato chips she kept hidden behind the couch with the other hand. She kept the chips hidden because her husband used to yell at her every time he saw her eating "that junk", as he called it. Crossword puzzles, traveling, playing cards and spending time with her family, especially her three granddaughters, was a favorite time for her. She loved taking them with her to play Bingo. It was always great fun listening to their stories when they returned home – sometimes with their winnings which she kept hidden away in her "special place" for future spending.
All three of her granddaughters tried to learn her cooking techniques – each one having specific recipes they tried to duplicate, especially her Slovak pastries and stuffed cabbage rolls. She prepared Sunday dinners and played scrabble well into her 90s. Her sons, both Davey and Donnie would come to see her each day and spend time playing games with her and sometimes just sitting and talking or watching TV together. I know how much they will miss this.
Anna leaves behind her two sons, Donald of Cortland and David Allan Pack of Howland. Her granddaughter Heidi Hall lives in Nashville, TN., while Melissa Pack, and Kristin (Brian) Pishotti both live in the Warren area along with her gr-grandchildren Mario and Mia Pishotti of Warren; her first gr-grandchild, James Alexander Hall of Nashville, TN., and her daughter-in-law, Willi Pack-Anderson also of Nashville, TN. We will miss her smile and her conversations in Slovak when she didn't especially want the grandchildren to know what she was saying. She was such an important part of our family.
Anna lost her husband, Bill who passed away September 20, 2005, and her first born son, Raymond, who was killed in a tragic auto accident on February 26, 1988. Losing these two important people in her life took its toll on her and the rest of the family. I don't think she ever completely got over losing either one of them.
A Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Thomas Eisweirth officiating this sad gathering.
Saying ‘goodbye' to the people we love is never easy. However, there is some peace to be had by the family when we know in our hearts that not only are our loved ones in a good place now, but that we will all be together again someday. What a peaceful, joyous feeling this is.
Anna was buried right where she wanted to be - next to her husband in All Souls Cemetery in Cortland, Ohio.
Anna Helen Krempasky Pack was my mother-in-law. She passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 with her family nearby. She was barely 4'11" tall and weighed so little her grandchildren could pick her up but she was the matriarch of the family – and everybody knew it. She lived a long and healthy life – she would have been 100 years old next month. It's hard to believe that she will no longer be at the head of the table at family gatherings. She handled that job with great dignity and love for so many years and we will miss her beyond words.
She was born February 24, 1914, in Youngstown, Ohio. She was the daughter of the late Martin and Kathryn Krempasky. Anna's generation was the first born Americans within this family. She was one of five children – all having preceded her in death - two brothers, Martin and Steve Krempasky; and two sisters, Julia Mraz and Kathryn Mraz - Julia & Kathryn having married brothers. I remember wonderful family parties with Auntie Julia, Auntie Kathryn, cousin Ritchie and Dorothy. Ritchie and Dorothy were Kathryn's children – Julia had none. To know each of these women and their capabilities to prepare incredible food for family get-togethers has been a most interesting experience. It all seemed to come together for each family gathering – the food, the card games and the laughter that could be heard well into the night.
On June 4, 1935 Anna married William Vincent "Bill" Pack (Pacek). Bill was the son of Matthew and Anna Floch Pacek. Both sets of parents - Martin and Kathryn and Matthew and Anna were born in Czechoslovakia so my mother-in law's family carried many of the old world traditions and values into the raising of their sons. This not only included the food that would be served at family celebrations - but the celebrations themselves. Christmas, Thanksgiving and weddings was a mixture of old world food, music and many times dancing. No one in the family ever wanted to miss these family functions. It is truly a great family to belong to.
Anna & Bill moved to the Howland area in 1947 where they operated a combination grocery-gas station and curb service restaurant at Howland Corners. When she was not serving food, she was outside pumping gas into the vehicles of her customers. I have a wonderful old picture of her doing this. She wore a skirt and high heels – a business lady did not wear jeans or tennis shoes back in those days.
In 1957, they built a new store located in Howland, which they operated until the early 1970s. This is where they lived when my husband, Raymond (Anna and Bill's first born son) took me to visit his parents and meet the rest of the family in 1963. I was still a teenager so this was truly a new experience for me. I couldn't believe the wonderful food and all of the merchandise in that little corner building that not only housed a store but three young men along with Anna and Bill. There was no getting lonesome or becoming bored in that house. There was always something to do or someone to talk to.
For most of the 51 years that I knew my mother-in-law, there are a few things she taught me that makes me smile when I think of them. How to make a salad, always put a slice of American cheese in your mashed potatoes, that the soft drink Tab could actually be tolerated if there was nothing else to drink, how to iron my husband's white shirts in less than 3 minutes, that Ponds was the best face cream for young women and many secrets about my husband. I love her for all of her wisdom, especially the tips on how to handle your husband. I used them all.
Anna was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, St. Vincent de Paul, and had been in the Altar and Rosary Society for more than 60 years. There were several things that she especially loved in addition to her time with the church. She loved to go bowling and she loved reading romance novels – holding the book with one hand and eating from the bag of potato chips she kept hidden behind the couch with the other hand. She kept the chips hidden because her husband used to yell at her every time he saw her eating "that junk", as he called it. Crossword puzzles, traveling, playing cards and spending time with her family, especially her three granddaughters, was a favorite time for her. She loved taking them with her to play Bingo. It was always great fun listening to their stories when they returned home – sometimes with their winnings which she kept hidden away in her "special place" for future spending.
All three of her granddaughters tried to learn her cooking techniques – each one having specific recipes they tried to duplicate, especially her Slovak pastries and stuffed cabbage rolls. She prepared Sunday dinners and played scrabble well into her 90s. Her sons, both Davey and Donnie would come to see her each day and spend time playing games with her and sometimes just sitting and talking or watching TV together. I know how much they will miss this.
Anna leaves behind her two sons, Donald of Cortland and David Allan Pack of Howland. Her granddaughter Heidi Hall lives in Nashville, TN., while Melissa Pack, and Kristin (Brian) Pishotti both live in the Warren area along with her gr-grandchildren Mario and Mia Pishotti of Warren; her first gr-grandchild, James Alexander Hall of Nashville, TN., and her daughter-in-law, Willi Pack-Anderson also of Nashville, TN. We will miss her smile and her conversations in Slovak when she didn't especially want the grandchildren to know what she was saying. She was such an important part of our family.
Anna lost her husband, Bill who passed away September 20, 2005, and her first born son, Raymond, who was killed in a tragic auto accident on February 26, 1988. Losing these two important people in her life took its toll on her and the rest of the family. I don't think she ever completely got over losing either one of them.
A Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Thomas Eisweirth officiating this sad gathering.
Saying ‘goodbye' to the people we love is never easy. However, there is some peace to be had by the family when we know in our hearts that not only are our loved ones in a good place now, but that we will all be together again someday. What a peaceful, joyous feeling this is.
Anna was buried right where she wanted to be - next to her husband in All Souls Cemetery in Cortland, Ohio.
