Agnes Marie Songer

1912 - 2017

Agnes Marie Songer, age 104, of Sigel, Pa., passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at the Penn Highlands Brookville Hospital.
Agnes was born in Sigel, Pa., on Sept. 2, 1912, to the late Charles LaMont and Catherine Alice (Clark) Songer. She graduated from the Sigel School with the class of 1932. She was a dedicated and generous member of the Saint Dominic Catholic Church in Sigel, Pa.
Agnes' first job was working in private homes performing general housework. She attended art school in Edinboro, but for a better paying job, she moved to Bradford, still cleaning homes. In 1937, she attended nursing school in Philadelphia, and she also spent time as a private caregiver. She spent a lot of time working for the Mallory family in their home in Bradford, their second home in Chattaqua, and eventually in their daughter's home. She eventually left this type of work and started with Lord's in Erie, Pa.; Lord's fabricated parts for airplanes. In 1944, Agnes returned to Sigel, Pa., and cared for her parents during their illnesses. She saw an ad that was placed for a job in Sigel, Pa., and after passing the Civil Service test, she became the Postmaster; that was on July 1, 1944. Over 29 years passed in this position and at the end of 1973, Agnes retired.
She never married, but she was engaged to a man named James C. Smith, former Postmaster in Pittsburgh, Pa.; James passed away prior to their wedding day.
Agnes loved sewing and she made many beautiful things that she would give away including hats, dresses, purses, and many more things. She would also crochet and she loved working in her flower gardens. She loved to dance, and would tell stories from her earlier years of ice skating in Erie, Pa.
The Songer family is considered a staple of this Sigel community. Their efforts, dedication, and generosity helped form Sigel, Pa., into the wonderful community that it is today.
Agnes is the last surviving member of her family as she is preceded in death by two sisters, Ellen Songer and Alice Gertrude Songer; and one brother, Charles Clark Songer.
Family and friends will be received on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, from 12 noon – 3 p.m., at the McKinney–d'Argy Funeral Home, ltd, 345 Main St., Brookville, PA 15825.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at the St. Dominic Catholic Church, Catholic Church Road, Sigel, PA 15860, beginning at 10 a.m., and officiated by Father William Laska. Interment will take place at St. Dominic Cemetery, Eldred Twp., Jefferson Co., Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to St. Dominic Church; the Sigel Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 97, Sigel PA, 15860; or to the Rebecca M. Arthurs Memorial Library, 223 Valley St., Brookville, PA 15825.
Online condolences and other information may be found at www.mckinneydargy.com.