Shirley Ann Zilka

Shirley Ann Cyrnek Zilka, 84, of Monongahela, died Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Family Hospice in Pittsburgh. She was born April 27, 1940 in Monessen, the daughter of Adam and Sue Ann Pastorick Cyrnek.

Shirley graduated from Monessen High School. While in high school, she worked at G.C. Murphy Co., and after high school, she worked for the Pennsylvania Adjustment Bureau. She later attended Central Technical Institute of Hartford for airline procedures. While she did not end up working as a flight attendant, she had a different set of adventures raising four children.  

For many years, Shirley was a stay-at-home mom for her young children, but she also worked when needed to help support her family.  As her children were growing up, Shirley was a fixture at all of their sporting events, whether it was baseball, hockey, volleyball, basketball or softball, including when her children were in college.  She also made sure their family home was open to any travel baseball teams, members of local sports teams and even international students from the student exchange program.

After her children were out of the house, she enjoyed trips to Atlantic City and then as other entertainment facilities were built closer to home, she enjoyed trips closer to home.  When the family expanded to include grandchildren, Shirley was a proud grandmother who enjoyed telling anyone who would listen about the achievements of her grandchildren, and she proudly displayed photos of all of her grandchildren in her home.  She was Catholic by faith.

Survived by four children, Joseph E. Zilka, Jr. of Hanahan of South Carolina, Jennifer L. Marco and husband, Jeff, of London, Ohio, Todd A. Zilka and wife, Jennifer, of Daisytown, Heather R. Zilka of Dublin, Ohio; four grandchildren, Talyn and Xander Zilka, Jordan and James Marco; brother, Stanley “Sonny” Cyrnek and wife, Veronica, of Belle Vernon.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph E. Zilka, Sr.

Friends will be received Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 2-5 PM for a memorial gathering at the Frye Funeral Home, Inc., 427 W. Main Street, Monongahela, PA 15063.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Family Hospice, part of UPMC, Canterbury Place, 310 Fisk Street, Pittsburgh, PA or on-line at: https://www.upmc.com/services/home-health-care/hospice/locations/southwest-pa/family-hospice-west/supporting-patients-families