Martha Lawver

1926 - 2025

Martha Josephine Tabacek Hornick Lawver of Harmarville, PA, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, after a full and active 98 years of life. She was born in Springdale, PA, on July 28, 1926, to Josef and Caroline (Mikusik) Tabacek and was the last remaining sibling of Joseph, Ann, August, Andrew, Rudolph, and Regina. Martha grew up in Springdale and attended St. Alphonsus Catholic School. Despite entering kindergarten only speaking her parents' native language of Slovak, she went on to graduate from Springdale High School as a top student. During her teen years, she worked for Amby's store, followed by work at JC Penney, where her fluency in the Slovak language was an asset when serving customers. She later worked at PPG, as well as assisted with map making during WWII. Later in life, she was a President's Club saleswoman with Avon Beauty Products. Martha's full-time job became that of a homemaker when she married her beloved John Michael 'Jack' Hornick (deceased). They shared their home together in Harmar Heights, then Springdale, and lastly, in Cheswick, PA, and were parents of seven loving children: Denise Maradei, Sandra Flowers, John Hornick, Michelle Osan, Carleen Walmsley, Robert Hornick (deceased), and Lisa Miller. Martha enjoyed visits with each of her 11 grandchildren: Nicholas, Chad, Christopher, Luke, Alana, Benjamin, Monica, Dayna, Anthony, Jacquelyn, and Evan. Additionally, she loved her eight great-grandchildren: Jack, Lucy, Eleanor, Richard Joseph, Rose, Emmalin, Jesse, and Kurt. Martha lived the life of a devoted Catholic, initially as a member of St. Alphonsus Church, then of Our Lady of Victory Church, Harwick. Martha loved socializing, making friends, and being a friend. She found love again with her second husband, Ira D. Lawver (deceased), with whom she continued to dance and travel. She appreciated the continued contact with Ira's children after his death. Martha's interests included crocheting, baking, gardening, and canning. She was an avid reader, and her love of reading led to a volunteer job tutoring adult students who struggled with literacy. She was competitive at any game and enjoyed crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, Scrabble, and checkers. Martha lived her later years at Amber Woods and Harmar Village. The family would like to express their appreciation for the love from her nieces, nephews, step-family, friends, and neighbors, and for the care from the staff and doctors of Amber Woods and Harmar Village, Lower Valley Ambulance, and St. Margaret's Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Martha can be made to Special Olympics-Pennsylvania or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life are being planned for a future date. Arrangements are under the direction of BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC., Oakmont.