Margaret (Yetsko) Fleck

Margaret was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 26, 2021. She was 85 yrs. old and was the last survivor of her immediate family. She was born on October 7, 1936, in Wilmore, to her late parents Charles and Anna (Swetz) Yetsko. Deceased family members include brothers, Charles; Steven; Michael; Matthew; John; Peter; Nicholas; Frank; and Paul and sisters, Mary; Catherine; Ann; Helen and her late mother-in-law, Mary Fleck. She is survived by her loving husband Steve, to whom she was married to for 66 years as of September 24, 2021. She was the loving mother to Steve (Janie) Fleck, Portage, Connie (Ken) Crum, Wilmore, Sherry (Dave) Minor, Portage and Tom (Laura) Fleck, Nanty-Glo. She was “Baba” to her grandchildren, Major Jennifer (Lee) Crum-Bailey, Shawn (Becky) Crum, Sarah Crum and fiancée Carl Spark, Technical Sergeant Lindsey (Scott) Shay, Leann Fleck and fiancée Todd Chapman, Sr. Airmen Justin (Kaley) Fleck, Dave (Amanda) Minor. She was known as “Double Baba” to her great grandchildren, Eli and Emma Bailey, Amelia Crum and Lincoln, London, and Lenox Minor. Also survived by sisters-in-law, Dolores Yetsko-Mutch and Pauline Yetsko and numerous nieces and nephews. She was a strong woman of faith and a lifelong member of Ss. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Portage, where she sang in the church choir. She retired from the Forest Hills School District where she worked for many years as a cook, serving hundreds of meals at the elementary school. She was always cooking or baking at home and was the only person that could put a 6-course meal on the table at a moment’s notice. The most memorable times were during deer season when she made her menus for the week and fed up to 20 or more hunters. At Easter time, she made sure everyone had their paska for their baskets and at all the holidays, her famous apple rolls. She worked tirelessly on the farm and for her family. In the summer, you would catch her riding on her mower cutting grass or working in the garden. When she wasn’t outside, she was in the kitchen cooking or baking. Mom’s entire life was devoted to her husband, her children, and their families. In her early days, she accompanied her husband Steve and his band to the many different venues for polka dances. She loved to dance a good “oberek” or the jitterbug. For her children and grandchildren, whether it was a concert, a high school play, wrestling, a football or baseball game, moving off to college, a new career or moving across the country, she was the first to offer prayers, wisdom, love, and support. She was so very proud of her entire family and especially those who served and continue to serve in the military. She loved to travel and the most memorable was when she and her husband Steve went to Medjugorje’. They made several trips out west and traveled across the country by car on their 50th wedding anniversary visiting all the National Parks from PA to California. Their most recent trip was in 2019 on their 1st cruise and land adventure to Alaska. The family wishes to thank Pastor John Bennett, Amanda Kozlovac and Heather Fitzpatrick and all of the UPMC Hospice workers who came to visit and care for mom on a weekly basis. You became a part of the family. A very special thank you to Julie Brenna, for all her love and support during mom’s illness. You will always hold a special place in our hearts. Friends will be received from 3-8 p.m., Thursday the Serenko-Claar Funeral Home, PC, Portage, where Parastas will be sung at 7:00 PM. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at Ss. Peter and Paul Byzantine Church, Portage. Father James Spontak, celebrant. Committal will be in St. Bartholomew Cemetery, Wilmore. As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to UPMC Family Hospice, 20 Sheraton Drive, Altoona, PA 16602 or Ss. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church. Online condolences may be at serenkoclaarfuneralhome.com.

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