Mary Richards (Klancar) passed away on February 28, 2014, at the age of 90 years old. She was born on October 26, 1923 to John and Mary (Penko) Klancar. She was a graduate of Barberton High School, was a former employee of the Babcock & Wilcox Co. (B&W), member of Visitation of Mary Catholic Church and past member of the Barberton Slovene Center.
Mary was proud of her Slovenian heritage and as a young girl participated in many festivals and plays which showcased the richness of her heritage. She loved growing up in Barberton and always talked fondly of the adventures she had with her many girlfriends.
Mary met Anthony Richards at The Highlander Club and they were married on August 1, 1949. She loved working at B&W where she made many friends, worked hard and played on the company’s basketball team. When Tony and Mary started their family, she gave it all up to raise her children. Mary was a devoted wife, a wonderful mom and a loving grandma.
Mary was very staunch in her opinions and her beliefs. There was no gray area on the subject of right and wrong. She loved gardening and had beautiful flowerbeds every year. She was awarded a Keep Akron Beautiful Award for her efforts. Mary was an excellent baker and her girls have many memories of baking with her. It was a joy to come home from school and smell her freshly baked cinnamon rolls. She loved animals and always took care of any stray dogs or cats that crossed her path.
Mary had a favorite song she sang to her babies and grand-babies and it now seems so appropriate….”You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Richards; grandson, Anthony Shingleton; sister, Molly Klancar; brother, Edward Klancar; and sisters-in-law, Marie (Harold) Getz, Alice (Arthur) Moline, Winifred (Walter) Pettit, Gertrude (James) Kraft and Joanne (John) Roetzel. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Alice (John) Cunningham, Cynthia Richards, Kathleen Richardson and Kimberly (Jess) Shingleton; grandchildren, Nicholas Richardson, Carly Richardson and Jess Shingleton; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
There will be no calling hours with only a private ceremony for the immediate family. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Summa for providing Mary with wonderful caregivers; Judy, her nurse, Lisa, her massage therapist, and Lisa, her aide. They treated Mary with much love and respect.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Anthony M. Shingleton Fund aka The Tony Fund at Akron Children’s Hospital, 1 Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308.
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Mary was proud of her Slovenian heritage and as a young girl participated in many festivals and plays which showcased the richness of her heritage. She loved growing up in Barberton and always talked fondly of the adventures she had with her many girlfriends.
Mary met Anthony Richards at The Highlander Club and they were married on August 1, 1949. She loved working at B&W where she made many friends, worked hard and played on the company’s basketball team. When Tony and Mary started their family, she gave it all up to raise her children. Mary was a devoted wife, a wonderful mom and a loving grandma.
Mary was very staunch in her opinions and her beliefs. There was no gray area on the subject of right and wrong. She loved gardening and had beautiful flowerbeds every year. She was awarded a Keep Akron Beautiful Award for her efforts. Mary was an excellent baker and her girls have many memories of baking with her. It was a joy to come home from school and smell her freshly baked cinnamon rolls. She loved animals and always took care of any stray dogs or cats that crossed her path.
Mary had a favorite song she sang to her babies and grand-babies and it now seems so appropriate….”You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Richards; grandson, Anthony Shingleton; sister, Molly Klancar; brother, Edward Klancar; and sisters-in-law, Marie (Harold) Getz, Alice (Arthur) Moline, Winifred (Walter) Pettit, Gertrude (James) Kraft and Joanne (John) Roetzel. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Alice (John) Cunningham, Cynthia Richards, Kathleen Richardson and Kimberly (Jess) Shingleton; grandchildren, Nicholas Richardson, Carly Richardson and Jess Shingleton; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
There will be no calling hours with only a private ceremony for the immediate family. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Summa for providing Mary with wonderful caregivers; Judy, her nurse, Lisa, her massage therapist, and Lisa, her aide. They treated Mary with much love and respect.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Anthony M. Shingleton Fund aka The Tony Fund at Akron Children’s Hospital, 1 Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308.
