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CHAMPION -- Margaret "Peg" L. Poponak, 95, passed away Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Mercy Health hospital, due to complications of pneumonia.
Peg was born Dec. 22, 1927, in Ehrenfeld, Pa., the daughter of the late William and Margaret Donaghy Burns.
Peg was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Charles "Curly" M. Poponak, who died Dec. 22, 2001; three brothers, William, Thomas and John "Jack" Burns; and sister, Agnes "Honey" Novak.
She is survived by brothers, Robert "Ned" of South Fork, Pa. and James Burns of Olmsted Falls, Ohio.
She is survived by her three children, Timothy Poponak of Warren, Patricia (William) Johnson of Burton and Charles (Catherine) Poponak of Warren; grandchildren, Timothy (Jennifer) Poponak Jr., Meghan (Paul) Fazio and Zachary Johnson, Erin (Jason) Lee, and Jonathan (Amber) Poponak; great-grandchildren, Ian (fiancee, Veronica) Kale, Kyle and Bradyn Poponak, Collin and Cecelia Lee, and Audrey and Oliver Poponak.
After graduating from South Fork High School in 1945, Peg attended beauty school. She started an in-home beauty shop at age 19, which she operated till 1953. Steeped with resiliency of their coal region and their Catholic faith, Peg and Curly moved with their first child from Ehrenfeld, Pa. to Warren in 1954. Peg worked for W.T. Grant as an associate and was promoted to operations manager. Now a busy mother of three, she worked hard at being a fair and efficient manager, but also relished the opportunity to relax and enjoy a good Halloween party.
When W.T. Grant closed, she started a new career with Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority in 1976. Due to her strong organizational skills, she was quickly promoted to manager of the Section 8 program and eventually was promoted to the housing services administrator. Peg enjoyed helping people be placed in a clean apartment or house along with the many programs that she organized for the housing authority community families. During her own leisure time, Peg particularly enjoyed packing up the family and boating in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Peg eventually retired in 1994.
Peg and Curly enjoyed a wonderful trip to Hawaii. Curly eventually died in 2001; and Peg ultimately found solace and thrived in St. William parish life. Peg understood well the art of friendship. She gave countless volunteer hours for a myriad of church activities. She continued in her everlasting daily Mass with the church ladies, NAIM Club, the Women's Guild and the Golden Agers. She was kept young by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When asked her secret to managing her own home at 95, she'd get a twinkle in her eye, "Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!"
Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel, 1884 North Road NE, Warren and again from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at St. William Catholic Church.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., the Rev. Ryan Furlong, officiating. Burial will be in All Souls Cemetery, Bazetta.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made, in Margaret's name, to St. William Catholic Church, 5411 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren.
Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to view this obituary and / or send condolences to Peg's family.
(special notice)