Mrs. Mary Catherine (nee Duricova) Salva

Mary Catherine Salva was born June 17, 1926 in the tiny village of Brezovicka in Eastern Slovakia. At the age of 11, she sailed alone to America as World War II was escalating. Mary's mother (also named Mary) had traveled ahead to America to Cleveland, Ohio to establish a new life for them in America. Following her graduation from Cleveland Lincoln High School, Mary became a cloistered nun, joining the Precious Blood Order in Cincinnati, Ohio. After a span of eights years, before taking her final vows, she decided to leave the convent to marry and to have children and a family of her own. Returning to Cleveland, she accepted a position with General Electric in downtown Cleveland. Mary met her husband Cyril at a dance at the Czech Club Sokol Ceska Sin in Cleveland. Cyril proposed to Mary on the very first night they met one another at the dance. Six months later, on May 21, 1955, Mary and Cyril were married at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brooklyn, Ohio. They honeymooned as newlyweds in Indian Lake, Ohio. Settling in Parma, Ohio, Mary and Cyril soon became the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters. After having raised her four children, Mary worked at the American Greetings Corp. in Brooklyn. In her spare time, Mary enjoyed reading, swimming, and traveling - making the journey back to her native Slovakia twelve times. Together, Mary and Cyril enjoyed dancing and socializing in Cleveland's Slovak community. Following their retirement, Mary and Cyril built a home in Daytona Beach, Florida and moved there to enjoy their retirement years. Sunshine, the beach, bingo, and daily Mass at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church were among the many things they enjoyed in Daytona. Mary served her congregation in Florida as a lay nun, a full member of the Order of Carmelites. Following some health concerns in 2006, Mary and Cyril moved back to Cleveland to be closer to their children and their families. Mary passed away on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at the East Park Care Center in Brook Park, Ohio. Survivors include her beloved husband of 57 years Cyril M. Salva; her children Joseph Salva (Stephanie) of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Theresa Keeler (Michael) of Medina, Ohio, Richard Salva (Laura) of Nevada City, California, and Marguerite "Peggi" Tustan (Terry) of Cleveland, Ohio; her grandchildren Dennis Tustan, Calvin Tustan, Jessika Salva, Breanna Keeler, and William Salva; her great-grandchildren Nathaniel Salva, and Landon Michael who is due in February 2013; and her sister Catherine Hershey (Phillip) of Copley, Ohio and her brother Milan Polomsky of Brezovicka, Slovakia. Mary's family will receive friends at the BUSCH FUNERAL HOME, 7501 Ridge Road, Parma, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. and from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 8, 2012. Her funeral service will be held Friday, November 9, 2012 at 10:30 A.M. at the BUSCH FUNERAL HOME. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Akron, Ohio. Guests are invited to a luncheon following the interment at Catherine and Phil Hershey's home, 200 South Medina Line Road, Copley, Ohio (near the cemetery). Memorial contributions may be forwarded to Cleveland Catholic Charities, 1404 East 9th Street, 8th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. BUSCH FUNERAL and CREMATORY SERVICES 440-842-7800 www.buschfuneral.com