Mary "Dolly" Eleanor (Filer) Mirda

Mary Eleanor "Dolly" Mirda (Filer), 98, of Mesa, Arizona passed away on September 4, 2023 at Caissa Assisted Living Home in Gilbert, Arizona.

Born May 25, 1925 in Pardoe, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Francis (Kolb) Filer.  Mary grew up with four wonderful brothers Joseph, Robert, Merle Eugene, David and four beautiful younger sisters Marjorie (Cross), Patricia (McDannel), Judith (Messina), and Virginia.  Mary learned to care for her siblings, drive and work in a variety of jobs at a very young age.   She was an avid hunter with her father and aspiring chef and homemaker with her mother.  Growing up, she was a member of St. Heremeneguild Catholic Church in Pardoe.  On June 25, 1952, she married George Mirda, a carpenter and Justice of the Peace of Homestead, PA. They had a wonderful life together beginning in Claytonia, PA and later moving to Slippery Rock and raising their family.  They celebrated 19 years of marriage before he sadly, unexpectedly passed away September 15, 1973.

Mary attended Saint Louis Church in West Sunbury, PA where she was the organist, a talented singer and supported countless fundraisers.  Her bread-making skills were celebrated as was her prolific green thumb.  Renowned, also, was her strong work ethic, quick wit and talkative charm.  She worked for Howe's Coffee Company and, later, on the World War II production lines, supervising a crew of 40 employees at P. Wall and Cooper-Bessemer, both in Grove City, PA.  She was appointed Brady Township Secretary and Treasurer, a civic duty she held for 15 years.  She was employed as a civil servant/supervisor at National Underground Storage, Boyers, PA and 12 years as an integrated circuit specialist with the Advanced Project, Research and Development Laboratory team at Motorola, Inc., Mesa, AZ. 

Leaving behind and cherishing her memory are her two daughters, Nancy Johnson of Chino Valley, Arizona and Peggy Hannold of Grove City and two sons, George (Carmen) of Melbourne, Florida and Joseph of Mesa, Arizona; 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.  She is survived by brother, David (Doris) Filer and sister, Patricia McDannel and literally dozens of nieces and nephews. 

Mary's family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the care and kindness she and her family received from Aviant Hospice and particularly, Karen Frank, RN.

A gravesite farewell will take place at 11:00am at the West Sunbury Union Cemetery on Saturday September 23, 2023 with Father Adam Verona of St. Faustina Parish officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow for family and friends at 1:00 pm in Saint Anthony's Catholic Church hall in Forestville, PA. The William F. Young Funeral Home has assisted the family with arrangements. 

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