Mary Frances Prahst

Mary Frances Prahst, of Parma, Ohio passed away peacefully on October 7, 2025.

She is the beloved wife of Norman C. Jr., devoted mother of Jeffrey Prahst (Debbie), David Prahst (Cindy), Laura Black (Rocky) and Amy Justice (Jay); cherished Grandma of Rachel Petrick (Jack), James Justice, Ben Prahst (Amanda), Amber Justice, Emily Sprowls (Chris), Wesley Black (Lynn), Nate Prahst (Evie), Aaron Prahst (Liz), Elizabeth Keller (Cory), Sam Prahst (April), Jonathan Prahst, Susanna Naess (Caleb), Natalie Bates(Austin), Jacob Prahst, Andrew Prahst, Warren Black (Kailee), Madelyn Black, Hannah Prahst, Daniel Prahst, Joseph Justice and the late Abigail Hope Justice. Great Grandma of Emma, Cole, Logan, Faith, & Gabriella Petrick, Tobias, Gianna and Josephine Prahst, Noah, Caleb and Joshua Keller, Amelia, Rosa & Emmeline Prahst, Luke & Nathan Sprowls, Lyra Prahst, Zion & Samara Prahst, Myla Naess, Felicity & Margaret Frances Black, Alyssa Kancler, Lucas & Hailey Walendzik and Josephine Justice. Mary is preceded in death by her parents Robert and Josephine Wolff, siblings; Robert Wolff (Helen), Edward Wolffe (Helen), Lawrence "Mike" Wolff (Faye), Evelyn "Honey" Keeling (Albert), and Joann DelZotto (Rino).

Mary was born in 1932 "during the worst year of the Great Depression" - she always said. She knew that having a new baby that year was probably not the easiest time for such an occasion, so she was grateful to her parents who already had four children for welcoming her. Mary was the fifth of six children born to German parents, including her mother Josephine, who came alone on a ship from Germany as a young girl at just 16 years old who was a devout Catholic, so all of her children attended Catholic schools. Mary went to Our Lady of Good Council Catholic School on Pearl Road in Cleveland and when she was in first grade she had all of the major childhood illnesses missing so many weeks of school that she was made to repeat first grade, though her kindergarten teacher in the public school that she had attended heard about this, and knowing she was such a good student in kindergarten said that if she would come back to the public school, they would advance her to second grade, but her parents chose to keep her at the Catholic school extending her time there. Mary was a quiet compliant child never requiring a spanking! She loved to read books her entire life regularly frequenting libraries. When she was 6 years old her parents had their last child a baby girl, Joann & Mary became her caretaker helping her mom by walking her around the neighborhood in her buggy while her mom got the housework done. Mary always loved babies!

She attended Rhodes High School in Cleveland and as was the way back then, she frequently went to the weekly school dances which is how she met Norman Prahst a recent graduate of Rhodes. After a few meetings at the dance hall, they started dating and the relationship grew to consider marriage but there was the one dilemma of her family's devout Catholic faith for Norm was a Lutheran! After much prayer & painful deliberation Mary & Norm decided they would raise their family in the protestant faith and they did so knowing that her family would not attend a wedding bringing them to the decision to elope. On June 1, 1953 Mary and Norman were married in Indiana where it was legal for 20 yr olds to marry without parents' permission. They wired her parents with the news then talked by phone and in time their marriage was accepted by the entire family. Mary and Norman were married for 72 years, had 4 children, 21 grandchildren and 26 & still counting great grandchildren. Mary and Norm grew in their faith as strong evangelical Christians raising their family to know God, to believe in Jesus as their Savior and to put their hope and faith in Him for their eternal salvation.Mary was a prayer warrior and faithful in reading and studying God's Word.

She read through the entire Bible multiple times. Mary was a faithful wife, devoted mother, and a homemaker. She provided hot breakfasts every school/workday and supper was served every day at 5:30 pm. The entire house was cleaned every Friday. When her children went away to colleges, she faithfully wrote a hand-written letter every Monday to each one letting them know how things were going at home and that she was thinking & praying for them always. Mary and Norm faithfully supported their adult children and grandchildren spending holidays, birthdays, & sporting events with as many of them as often as they could. They traveled to many countries and spent nearly 20 winters in their Florida home together. As Mary and Norm became older, they prayed that Norm would survive Mary because she was dependent on him for many things as she did not learn to use modern technologies such as computers, cell phones, or on-line communication. And God has graciously answered their prayer. Mary spent 4 1/2 long yrs bed-bound in facilities but never asked to go home. She remarkably, was actually miraculously content in her circumstances, happy to be visited daily by Norman and many other family and friends that would drop in.

For the last 17 months Norm joined her, and they shared a room in the facility where he could often help her or comfort her. Mary was often consoled by hymns and enjoyed watching her church's services remotely each week. Then on Tuesday morning, Oct 7, 2025, God took Mary HOME so she could walk and dance in His presence forever. No more pain, loneliness, or anxiety about the future. Though Norman and her devoted family miss her now, they are comforted knowing she is in perfect peace with God her Savior.

A visitation will be held at the Community of Hope Church, 1435 W Royalton Rd, Broadview Heights, OH 44147, on October 13, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A funeral service will take place at 10:30 AM on October 14th, with an additional visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. Following the service, Mary will be laid to rest at Lutheran Cemetery.