Martha H. Varzaly

1932 - 2017

Martha Helena Varzaly (Gaydos), 84, of Sewickley, passed away Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, in Bethlen Home in Ligonier. Born in 1932 as the sixth child of the late Very Rt. Rev. Stephen Varzaly and Anna Kristof, Martha was an extraordinary mother, mentor, friend and business owner. She was creative and artistic, demanding and encouraging, and beautiful. She was a proud Eagle Scout mother for her boys, an avid lacrosse mom for her girls and neighborhood mother and advisor. She was host to international musicians with the Sewickley music club, guardian of animals and nature and, formerly, the owner and proprietor of the Clothes Chute antique and consignment shop in Ambridge. While much of her last few years were challenged by the effects of Parkinson's disease, she was an inspiration to others by always being there and thoroughly engaging in whatever she did by lending a hand or an ear. As one of the early recipients of DBS surgery to counteract the effects of Parkinson's, she remained active and involved in further research in movement disorders. Preceded in death by her son, Daniel Gaydos, she is survived by her three children, Timothy Gaydos, of Simi Valley, Calif.; Maria Gaydos, of Dallas, Texas ; and Valerie Gaydos, of both Sewickley and Baltimore, Md. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Lou Lazor, of Monroeville, and numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks goes to the incredible people at Bethlen Home in Ligonier for providing superior assistance and care for not only our mother but for the entire community. Memory Eternal.
Friends will be received at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at St. Michaels Orthodox Church, 146 Third St., Rankin, PA 15104, followed by 10 a.m. memorial services and interment at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
As her passion was family and she was an avid family historian, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (Fund for St. Michaels Orthodox Church, Rankin, PA), 100 W. Station Square Drive, Suite 450, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.