Marie Salopek

September 2, 1931 — March 4, 2024

Marie (Loya) Salopek, 92, the first of 6 children was born on September 2, 1931, to Mildred (nee Lalich) & Clifford Loya of McKeesport, PA, entered into the grace of our Lord on March 4, 2024.

Marie married Thomas E. Salopek (d. 2021) January 22, 1955. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage. As the eldest of 6 children Marie was sister to Shirley Nikolich (George), the late Peter Loya (Margie), Clifford Loya (Susan), George Loya (Judy) and the late Milan Loya.

Marie honed her motherly skills early on in life. Her surviving sons, Thomas Salopek (Margi nee Fitzpatrick) and Peter J Salopek (Sandi nee Smith) can attest to that. Marie developed a style and grace all her own and had an eye for helping her husband Tom and their 2 boys keep up. After spending the first 13 years of marriage in Duquesne, PA including serving as a “Mother of Saint Sava’s Serbian Orthodox Church” of McKeesport, PA, Marie and Tom relocated their family to Rocky River, Ohio in 1968. Her sense of fashion and eye for design made her a favorite associate of customers as an employee at Edith Blondis Dress Shop and also working for interior decorators Kenneth Mahall, Norman Tagg & Associates through the 1970s and 1980s. During their retirement years, Marie and Tom enjoyed spending time with their family and took many cruises across the globe.

Marie survived a dangerous bout of Sepsis that almost took her from us in 2016. With bravery, courage and assistance from close family members including her loving niece, Cathy Galla, Marie proudly maintained her independence.

We will all miss her dearly and we take comfort in her being reunited for eternity with husband Thomas in the Kingdom of The Lord. They were the love of each other’s lives.

Marie is also survived by grandchildren Megan Simeon (Jayson), Michael Salopek (Michelle nee Zelasko), Rose Salopek (Kyle Hubbard) and Samantha Hartdmayer (Doug); great-grandchildren Andrew, Alex and Aaron Simeon, Sasha, Mila and Leo Salopek and Evan Hubbard; as well as many more loving nieces and nephews. Condolences and special memories of Marie can be shared with her family online at www.heritagecremationsociety.com

Heritage Cremation & Burial Society
(216) 631-4500

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Marie Salopek

September 2, 1931 — March 4, 2024

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