Mary Bilchak

Mary Bilchak, 98, of Shippensburg, died Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at home.

Born December 1, 1926 in Warren, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Valeria (Waligora) Jesionek.

Among other jobs, Mary was employed as a bookkeeper at Brainard Steel where she met her future husband, the late William Bilchak whom she married September 4, 1948.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and the Polish Women’s Alliance in Warren until her move to Shippensburg in 1995, where she joined Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church.

Mary loved dancing and also was a member of the Harrisburg Polka Dancing club. Besides dancing, Mary enjoyed gardening, baking, playing cards, and rug braiding. She crocheted highly cherished personalized afghans and fine lace tablecloths. She did oil painting, taught herself to play the organ, and crafted exquisite macrames. She loved learning, and teaching her children and grandchildren.

She was a lifelong union supporter and was devoted to the fair treatment of all people and the care of our earth.

She is survived by her four children, Valerie (husband Dave), Rosemary (husband Gordon), James (wife Sharie) and Cynthia (husband John), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her two brothers (Chester and John) and her sister (Rose).

A memorial Mass will be held Friday, September 26, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church, Shippensburg, with The Rev. Ben Dunkelberger officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. A reception will follow the memorial service.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.