Mary D. “Meka” Wenick, 94, of Belle Vernon, peacefully passed away, joining her husband in Heaven on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. A daughter of the late Louis and Shana Popoff Dalson, she was born in Brownsville on Sept. 8, 1927. Meka was a first generation American; her parents immigrated from Macedonia. She was proud of her Macedonian heritage, speaking the language fluently and attending many conventions held yearly. Mary graduated from Brownsville High School in 1947, attended Grace Martin School of Business in Pittsburgh, then California University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with first a bachelor’s, then a Master of Education degree. She was employed by the Belle Vernon Area School District as a third grade and then kindergarten teacher for nearly 20 years, retiring in 1992. After retirement, Mary was appointed to the Washington Township Water Authority, taking over her husband’s position after his passing. She enjoyed painting with oils and watercolors, reading, doing crossword puzzles and playing bridge. Meka loved to travel with her husband, who was her high school sweetheart, to visit their children and their families. She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan Careatti of Spring Lake, N.J., and Mary Elizabeth and Thomas Sabolek of Fayette City; three sons and daughters-in-law, Louis M. and Vicki Wenick of Panama City, Fla., George D. and Evelyn Wenick of Atlanta, Ga., and Mark J. and Jennifer Wenick of Canfield, Ohio; 13 grandchildren, Eric Wenick, Adam (Stephanie) Wenick, David (Ava) Jett, Mark (Bridget) Davis, Justin Careatti, Jessica (Randy) Flaum, Shana (Eugene) Sanderson, Jeffrey Careatti, Matt Maffeo, Lauren (Chris) Pepe, Julie (Street) Johnson, Kellie Wenick and Nicole Wenick; 20 great-grandchildren, Milla, James, Celeste, Timothy, George, Georgia, Audrey, Brooke, Austin, Alexander, Addison, Camille, Brayden, Aubrey, Blake, Fiona, Morgan, Chris, Carter and Elsie; five step-grandchildren, Thomas (Melanie) Sabolek, Christina (Michael) Cassin, Georgina Thomas, Jamie (Nathaniel) Beall and April (Andrew) Burnell; and four step-great-grandchildren, Chloe, Emma, Michael and Frank. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Wenick, on July 12, 1994; and two sisters, Katherine Sally and Violet DePrete. Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, at FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, 724-929-5300, www.FergusonFuneralHomeandCrematory.com. Funeral services will be private. Entombment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Belle Vernon Public Library in Mary’s memory.
