Mary Werbaneth
September 05, 1925 - December 28, 2021
Visitation: Monday 6-8PM, Devlin Funeral Home, 806 Perry Hwy. Pgh, PA 15229
Service: Tuesday 10AM, Sts. John and Paul Church, 2586 Wexford Bayne Rd., Sewickley, PA 15143
Werbaneth
Mary (Roney)
Mary Roney Werbaneth, age 96, of Franklin Park, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 28, 2021.
Mary was born in Crafton, PA, to Francis and Margaret (Sullivan) Roney, and lived her entire life in the Greater Pittsburgh area. After graduating from Carnegie Tech with a bachelor’s degree shortly after World War II, Mary worked for a decade assisting her father run his business, The Colonial Press, publishers of The Pittsburgh Catholic, among other local clients of note, before she met her future husband, Louis A. Werbaneth, Jr. (Lou) at a Pittsburgh Catholic Club event. Mary and Lou were married on November 22, 1956, and eventually settled in the North Hills, where they raised their four children.
Mary was an active member of the Delta Gamma sorority, starting from her Carnegie Tech days through to the end of her life. She and Lou were founding members of the Wildwood Golf Club, in 1960, where they frequently played golf and cards over decades up until very recent years. Mary especially enjoyed playing bridge and pinochle and had an active group of card-playing friends at Wildwood, although whether the emphasis was on cards or on conversation and lunch is a matter of debate. An avid reader, Mary loved cowboy stories, thrillers, and the latest mysteries, and was a loyal member of the local Delta Gamma book club, where the emphasis was on the books and on the luncheons. She was also a great supporter of our Pittsburgh sports teams, enjoying for decades the season tickets our family had for the Steelers and for Pitt football. And Mom enjoyed sneaking in an occasional Pirate game, starting with the Forbes Field games she attended with her father, and then, later on, with her husband and sons at Forbes Field, Three Rivers Stadium, and PNC Park. Hockey at The Igloo also figured.
Mary enjoyed traveling, notably driving across the country with her parents and her sister Pat circa 1939 to see the Southern California members of the Roney family who had relocated there from Pittsburgh before the War, and where they had established a successful branch, or to visit Western mountains, preferring those visits to be in summer. Above all, her favorite place to stay was her beloved Hilton Head Island, where she and Lou purchased a second home in 1972, a home she kept until the mid-two thousands.
Mary remained active in clubs and associations that were important to her throughout her life, both with and without her husband Lou, including membership in The Duquesne Club, The Pittsburgh Athletic Association, and The Wildwood Golf Club.
Mom is dearly missed by her four sons, seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. She is survived by her son Paul of Franklin Park, PA, granddaughter Akiko (Nick) Barton and great grandsons Nolan and Loic of Richmond, CA, along with granddaughter Saori (Brian) Bainum and great grandsons Edison and Marcus of Tokyo, Japan; by her son Greg (Evelyn) of Coppell, TX, and granddaughters Katherine (San Francisco), Elizabeth (Seattle), and Laura (Atlanta); by her son Bill (Mary) of Long Valley, NJ, grandsons Nicholas and Alexander; and by her son Peter, of Franklin Park, PA. Mary is also survived by her stepbrother, Fr. Colman Studeny, OFM Cap, sister-in-law Roberta Werbaneth, and three nieces and two nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband Lou, she was preceded in death by her in-laws Louis and Catherine Werbaneth, sister Patricia (Roney) Wettach and her husband Robert Wettach, brother-in-law John (Jack) Werbaneth, and stepmother Germaine Studeny Roney.
Mary received great care from the Visiting Angels organization in the last years of her life, and, in her final six months, from Heartland Hospice. Our family is grateful for their attentive support.
Friends will be received on Monday January 3rd 2022 from 6-8PM at DEVLIN FUNERAL HOME, INC., 806 Perry Hwy., Ross Twp. A Mass of Christian Burial will be in Sts. John and Paul Church 2586 Wexford Bayne Rd., Sewickley, PA 15143, on Tuesday January 4th 2022 at 10AM.
Donations in Mary’s memory can be made to:
Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice
750 Holiday Drive
Suite 110, Building 9
Pittsburgh PA 15220
We extend our condolences to the family.
My dad. Robert Meadows, was related to Mary’s dad, Francis. His dad was Clement who married Isadore Roney. My dad worked, as did I, at Colonial Press from its 1940 inception till his passing in 1978. He probably introduced his young sons to Mary in the early fifties. I remember those visits as well as the picnics. I joined Colonial Press in 1978 and saw its demise around 1980.
I trust that during this time of grieving and beyond that your family reflects on the grace and peace that Mary bestowed upon you all.
Mom, you brought me into this world more than 64 years ago, and I saw you out of it Tuesday afternoon this week. How fitting.
With all my love,
Paul
You have always been a fixture of my childhood memories. Rest In Peace, Mrs. Werbaneth.
Take care Mary France Werbaneth, my lovely niece