Mary Lou (Rillo) Pruchnic

Mary Lou Pruchnic, 92, of New Castle, passed away on the morning of January 15, 2025, at home with her family by her side.

Mary Lou was born June 4, 1932, in Windber, PA. She was the daughter of the late Celestine and Mary (Guido) Rillo, the 13 th of 14 children. Mary Lou was married to Stanley J. Pruchnic for 70 years; He survives at home. Mary Lou was Roman Catholic and a member of Holy Spirit Parish. She was a graduate of Windber High School, class of 1950, and continued her education at Seton Hill College, earning her bachelor’s degree in music education in 1954.

Mrs. Pruchnic retired after 50 years of service as the organist at the former St. Joseph the Worker Church. She was a Colleague of American Guild of Organists and a member of National Pastoral Musicians.

She was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. Mary Lou was past president of the Christian Mothers and Mary Martha Guild of St. Joseph the Worker Church.

Mary Lou often said, “Jesus knocked at my door.” Although her greatest joy had been spending time with family and friends, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she looked forward to her heavenly home, where she would spend eternity with her Savior.(Rev. 3:20).

In addition to her husband Stanley, Mary is survived by four sons, Stanley J. (Sandy) Pruchnic, Jr. of Fredericksburg, VA, David C. Pruchnic, of Huntington Beach, CA, Anthony A. Pruchnic of New Castle, PA, and Paul J. Pruchnic of Russell, PA; three daughters, Deborah A. (John) Thomas, Mary Grace Pruchnic, and Anne Marie Pruchnic, all of New Castle; sister, Virginia Bohler of Mentone, CA; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Pruchnic was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, William and John Pruchnic; five brothers, Nick, Joseph, Cosmo, John, and Albert Rillo; and seven sisters, Carmella DiGiulio, Rose Spinos, Antonette Lunn, Sue Cowgill, Jennie Kennedy, Mildred Rizzo, and Lucy Cantarine.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Noga Funeral Home, Inc. 1142 S. Mill Street, New Castle, PA 16101

The family is asking to meet at St. Vitus Church on Monday, January 20, 2025, where a Mass of Christian Burial and Rite of Committal will be held at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Aaron Kriss will officiate. Burial will be in St. Vitus Cemetery.

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