Kathryn E. Goralka

1926 - 2025

Kathryn Evelyn (Skok) Goralka, 98, of Tarentum, departed this life and went home to be with the Lord at home on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, surrounded by her loving son and daughter. Kay was born in New Kensington on Nov. 23, 1926, a daughter of Martin and Katarina (Oravec) Skok, and was a 1945 graduate of Arnold High School. She worked as a meat wrapper for several area supermarket chains, including A&P, Sparkle, Kroger, and Loblaws. She married her husband, the late Ernest F. Goralka, on June 7, 1958, in the former All Saints Roman Catholic Church of Arnold. She took time off from work to raise her family and went back to work for 25 years as a clerk at Salvati's Select Meats in Lower Burrell, retiring in 1996. Kay was proud of both her Croatian and Slovak heritage and enjoyed their customs, traditions, music, and food. She was a meticulous housekeeper and an excellent cook and was known for her many old-world recipes. She enjoyed making the traditional Slovak Vilija every Christmas Eve for her family. She was a member of the former Holy Martyrs Roman Catholic Church of Tarentum, where she was very active in the Christian Mothers and held various offices over the years, including vice president, secretary, and treasurer. She devoted many hours there cooking and working the bingos, dances, senior luncheons, funeral luncheons, the annual church fun fair, and many other doings. She was a den mother with the Cub Scouts and a Girl Scout leader when her children were involved. She volunteered as a teacher's aide at the former St. Clement School and collected annually in her neighborhood for the March of Dimes. She had a strong work ethic and was the most humble, kind, and generous lady, who would have given you the shirt off her back. A devout Catholic, Kay attended daily mass for many years and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying the rosary daily. Kay was a member of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association (Zenska Jednota) and previously served as majority inspector on the board of the elections for the third ward of Tarentum. She enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as game shows and Dancing with the Stars on TV. She also enjoyed going to the casinos, trips to the seashore, and Sunday afternoon rides through the country. Kay will be remembered as a friend to many, a hard worker, and a devoted daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by her son, James Goralka, of Tarentum; her daughter, Kathy Schreiber, and husband, Joe, of Allegheny Township; and two granddaughters, Krista Schreiber of Harmar and Kelly Edwards and husband, Steve, of McCandless. Kay is also survived by nieces, nephews; and her sister, Mary Lawrence. Besides her husband and parents, Kay was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and John Skok. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Allegheny Valley Hospital, especially PCU, ICU, and AHN Hospice, as well as Eureka Ambulance. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at DUSTER FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES INC., 347 E. 10th Ave., Tarentum, 724-224-1526. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Natrona Heights. Private burial will follow in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Frazer Township. Visit dusterfuneralhomeinc.com.