Martha J. Tkacik, 91 of West Mayfield, died Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 in UPMC Shadyside.

       Born April 24, 1919 in Lansford, PA, she was the daughter of the late John and Ann Gaydos Matta.  Her father John was as a coal mine policeman and her mother Ann kept tabs on the bustling activity within the home.  Her siblings Eleanor, Mary, and Ben who preceded her in death were some of her closest friends. Growing up during the great depression taught her thriftiness and resourcefulness.  Martha often entertained her family with tales of her years of growing up in Lansford.

    After graduation from Lansford High School, Martha attended and graduated from the Philadelphia School of Nursing and was a Registered Nurse.  She put her talents to good use during her service in Word War II.   Martha was a Captain in the United Stated Army Air Corps and served her country for 31/2 years.  She served as a flight nurse and instructor and traveled all over the United States.  She helped in the transport of wounded soldiers from both the European and Pacific campaigns.

    Martha married her late husband Thomas E. Tkacik, Sr. in Beaver Falls on April 29, 1947.  The couple had met while in the service and they settled in Beaver Falls. They were married for 55 years before Tom’s passing in 2002. 

Martha was the mother of 5 energetic boys who kept her on her toes.  She was employed part-time on the night shift at Providence Hospital as an intensive care nurse, all the while juggling the task of raising her sons.  After her retirement, she served as president of the Top 50 Club at St. Philomena Parish. She and Tom were charter members of St. Philomena Roman Catholic Parish.  Martha was devout in her faith and could be found entering the church doors weekly.

      She was proud of her Slovak heritage and was known as a good cook who could be counted on to provide all the classic Slovak dishes especially at holiday time.  Christmas was time to look forward to her nut rolls.

   In addition to her parents and sisters and brother, she was preceded in death by a son, Thomas E. Tkacik, Jr.

               She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law,  David and Renie, Monroeville, Mark and Bobbie, Lilburn, GA, Bernard and Karen, Dacula GA, Michael and Cathy, Colorado Springs, CO, seven grandchildren, Alexis, Joseph, David, Lauren, Daniel, Vadim, and Alex, and six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

              Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Hill and Kunselman Funeral Home, www.hillandkunselman.com., 3801-4th Ave., College Hill, Beaver Falls, where prayers will be recited Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Philomena Catholic Parish with Rev. Father Kim Schreck as celebrant.

Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Chippewa Township.

  The Beaver County Special Unit will meet at the cemetery on Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. to conduct full military rites.

  Memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709.