Martha Anderson (Marinch) Macek

Martha Anderson Macek

90-year SNPJ member

With family by her side, Martha Anderson Macek, 98, passed from this life to join her Lord in heaven Friday, August 26, 2016, during a brief stay at Evergreen Hospital, Kirkland, Wash.

Born in Burgettstown in 1918, she was one of 11 children born to Martin and Mary Chesin Marinch. She happily spent her early years going to school, working and enjoying the activities of the Slovenian SNPJ club, of which she was a proud member for 90 years.

In 1940, after a courtship of fun and dancing, she married John Anderson and moved to Muse, where they continued their loving relationship. Eventually they had two children, Nancy and John (Sam). John's life was cut short in 1951 after a coal mining accident.

Years later, she met Charles Macek at an SNPJ dance and they continued their relationship, marrying in 1958. They continued to dance and Charles joined Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Muse, where Martha was already an active, longtime member. She was unfortunate to lose her second husband in 2000.

Mrs. Macek was well-established in Muse and frequently held office in all of the Muse women's organizations. Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Christian Mothers and Alter Society were very important to her. She also greeted and ushered at Mass. She was an active member of Muse Firemen's Auxiliary and the women's auxiliary for Italian Independent Club. She also volunteered for Canonsburg Hospital Red Cross and Muse Senior Citizens group, frequently playing her button box at lunches.

She was most proud of founding and organizing the Gaining on Losses (GOL) club of Muse in 1970, which continued under her leadership until 2005. It was established with charter members only with a focus on losing weight but was mostly full of friendship and parties.

In keeping with her heritage and passion for music, when Mrs. Macek retired in 1980 from Western Center (a state school and hospital), she was determined to learn to play the Slovenian button box, which she imported from Slovene. She was a quick learner and fast became a playing and singing member for the Western Pennsylvania SNPJ button box club of SNPJ Lodge 138 in Strabane and International Button Box Club in Canonsburg. She learned quickly and was, of course, quite the showman; the group cut CD's and played at functions and dances all over Western Pennsylvania. She continued with the Western Pennsylvania group for 20 years, until she could no longer pump her button box.

In 2005, after 65 years in her Muse home, Mrs. Macek moved to the Seattle, Wash., area to be near her daughter, where she continued to be the loving center of her family.

Aside from all the groups and organizations she belonged to over the years, her family and friends were her first love and most important treasures. She never met a stranger and was a happy, kind, generous and feisty kind of gal to the end.

Mrs. Macek was preceded in death by all of her immediate family, both of her husbands and her beloved son, John (Sam).

Surviving are a daughter, Nancy Anderson Burnside; six grandchildren, Denise Burnside, Robert Burnside, Susan Burnside Thorson (Tye) and John, Matt (Brie) and Brad Anderson; a daughter-in-law, Mary Anderson Bradley; three great-grandchildren, Jesse Burnside and Annie and Cole Thorson; a sister-in law, Dorothy Warabow; several nieces and nephews; and many members of the Macek family.

Mrs. Macek was one of those treasured souls whose life was a celebration for all those around her. Her light in the lives of her loved ones has been extinguished here on earth, but it is known that she is above watching over everyone. She will be loved and missed forever.

Friends are welcome from 4:00-7:00 PM on Friday, September 2, 2016 in Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Joseph P. Salandra owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg 724-745-8120 where departing prayers will begin at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 3, 2016.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 AM in Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Muse with Rev. George DeVille as celebrant.  Interment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Canonsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, P.O. Box 447, Muse, PA 15350.