Tributes

Mary Kollm, November 11, 1921 - January 27, 2018 Mary Kollm (Mamie), age 96, of Knight Circle, Pawleys Island, SC passed away peacefully in her home early Saturday morning January 27th, 2018. Beloved wife, of 62 years, to Harry (deceased); devoted mother of Robert H. Kollm (deceased) (Annette (nee Pantina)(deceased), Dorothy (nee Cooper) (deceased)), Gary A. Kollm (Mary Rulli), and David M. Kollm (Carol); grandmother of Robert A. Kollm, Kelly Cain (David), Christopher P. Kollm (Tara), Kathie Morgan (Lyle), Robert R. Kollm (Sunshine Owen), Harrison Kollm (Madison), Clara Kollm (Michael Sestrich) (deceased), Peter Kollm; great grandmother of Tyler Cain, Christopher M. Kollm, Kyle Kollm, Eli Owen, Annette (Nettie) Morgan; and she also had many nieces, nephews and friends. Mary was the only child of Peter and Mary (nee Rusnak) Mikluschak. She was born on November 11, 1921 in Dunlo, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Duryea, Pennsylvania. She was raised with her cousins Anna (Inky) (nee Mikluschak) Sadowski (deceased) and Mary (nee Mikluschak) Brigandi (deceased) after their parents died in the 1918 influenza epidemic Mary was a 2nd generation American of Slovak/Austrian decent. She was the first person in her family to complete high school, graduating from Duryea High School in 1939. After high school at age 17, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio for new opportunities, and later was joined by her parents. In Cleveland, she met her future husband, Harry, at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party, and knew right away she would marry him. Harry and Mary were married on October 25th, 1941 at St. John’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Cleveland. They welcomed their first son Robert in 1944, while Harry was in the service. Like many women of her generation, Mary took a factory job to support her country in World War II. After the war, she worked first as a homemaker and later at Union Carbide’s Eveready Battery Plant in Cleveland, retiring in 1985. She enjoyed gardening and cooking, socializing with friends, dancing, and hosting family dinners every Sunday. Mary and Harry moved to Safety Harbor, Florida from Fairview Park, Ohio in 1999 where they enjoyed life in the sun together. In retirement Mary and Harry travelled often with friends, enjoyed multiple cruises, and dancing with each other and her cousins. She served as the Sunshine Lady at Amber Glades Estates through age 93, writing and delivering cards to neighbors and friends in the park. In 2015, Mary moved to Pawleys Island, SC to be closer to her son Gary and his wife Mary where they cared for her until her passing. She was a devout Catholic, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be missed dearly. The family would like to thank Bill Yost and his wife Kate (deceased) for loving friendship and support while in Safety Harbor, and Sharon Logan Hopkins for care and companionship in Pawleys Island. The family is planning a memorial ceremony and internment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brookpark, Ohio in early summer. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if contributions were made in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/ or to a charity of your choice.