Mary Divich
Mary Divich Obituary
Mary "Seka" Divich of Steubenville, Ohio, and formerly of Weirton, West Virginia, died December 17, 2020, at the age of 96. She was born in Mingo Junction, Ohio, to the late Bert and Smilja Trbovic Divich.
Mary led a life immersed in education, both as a student herself and in various pursuits devoted to student development in both West Virginia and Ohio. After graduating from Weir High School with the Class of ’42 she obtained degrees from the College of Steubenville, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, and West Virginia University where she received Masters Degrees in both secondary education (Biological Sciences) and Clinical Studies (Counseling and Guidance). Prior to starting her teaching career she was employed in Pittsburgh as a mortician and she also assisted her mother in managing the family tavern business. She then taught class at Toronto High School followed by a long tenure as Guidance Counselor for both Grant and Steubenville High Schools – her most rewarding occupation. She was proud to help steer high school students through challenging years and on to post-secondary endeavors whether college, trade school, military, or other activity to which they aspired.
Seka was a social person, gathering energy from contact with other people. Her membership in the WVU Alumni Association and in the Alpha Phi Sorority, which she joined at WVU, furnished her with cherished lifelong friends and allowed her to provide help to many young people especially through Alpha Phi charitable and scholarship-granting activities. Seka was a life long member of Serbian National Federation, serving as secretary of Weirton Lodge 78 (Rodoljub) for many years.
Seka was deeply committed to her religion. The Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Steubenville was her Church home; she served in several administrative capacities in service to the Church and became a founding member of the Serbian American Cultural Center in Weirton. She also visited related Churches during her travels throughout the United States and in Serbia and Croatia. She made a very special trip to the “old world” village of Gomirje, where her mother was born and raised, and its Monastery, founded c. 1600, and declared how beautiful the area is to this day.
Preceded in death by her brother Theodore Davich, an entomologist, and his talented wife Mary Radakovich Davich, she is survived by her niece Nada (Charles T.) Harris of Silverthorne, Colorado; nephew Bert Ned Davich of St. Louis, Missouri; great-nephews Thomas Kevin (Christy McGuire) Harris and Theodore J. “Teddy” Davich; great-nieces Stacey (Hafid) Lazreq and Adrienne Davich; great-great nieces Zora and Eliza Harris, Dounia and Salma Lazreq; and great-great nephew Dashiell Pennock.
Funeral Services 11 a.m. Monday, December 21, 2020 at Dunlope-Shorac Funeral Home, 215 Fernwood Road, Wintersville, Ohio with Very Rev. Rajko Kosic officiating. (Visitation one-half hour prior). Burial at Holy Resurrection Serbian Cemetery, Steubenville, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to her beloved Holy Resurrection Church in Steubenville or to a charity of choice
To view Funeral service click the links below:
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Divich, please visit our floral store.
