Mary Petruska

Mary was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1932. She celebrated her 85th birthday on August 3, 2017. Her dad, Milburn Lerue Work, was of Scottish descent. His nickname was "Slim" and when Mary was born, he worked as an assembler for General Fireproofing. Mary's mom, Elizabeth "Bessie" McCauley Work, was a homemaker and of Irish descent. They named their daughter Mary Larue. She was the second of five children. Mary's siblings were an older sister, Jackie, and younger siblings, Jimmy, Sharon, and Tommy.

Mary lived in Youngstown for most of her childhood. She and her older sister, Jackie got along well as they walked eight blocks to and from Catholic school together every day until Mary was in 4th grade. After that, Mary and her family moved to a house that was only three blocks away from their school. Mary lived there through her 9th grade year. A favorite teacher of Mary's during this time was Mrs. McLaughlin. Mary's best friend was Ann McCoy, and they enjoyed swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter.

When Mary was in 10th grade her family moved to a house in the country near Churchill, Ohio. She enjoyed living in the country, and loved her short, curly, strawberry blonde hair. Mary had a paper route, delivering the local paper on her bike. She loved to play games, especially Scrabble, jacks, and card games. She was a cantor at her church and fondly remembered leading the congregation in song. Mary graduated from Liberty High School in 1950.

A person who greatly influenced Mary while she was growing up was her mother's sister, Aunt Mae McCauley. Mary loved spending time with her tall and outspoken Aunt Mae who knew a lot about politics and was the secretary to the county judge. Mary also looked up to her mother's brother, Uncle Tom. Mary decided to become a nurse (R.N.) and attended Trumbull Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Youngstown. Graduating in 1953, she then worked there as a staff nurse.

Mary married John R. "Jack" Petruska on October 9, 1954. Jack attended Kent State University and was in the Army. Shortly after they married, Jack was sent to Panama, and Mary accompanied him. They had their first child, John R. "Randy" Petruska, Jr. in September of 1955. After a few years, the family returned to Ohio and Jack returned to civilian life as an electrical engineer. The family moved to Texas in 1958 when Jack accepted a job offer in the Dallas area. They settled in Irving and soon added daughters Jane and Laura to the family. The family attended St. Luke Catholic Church and were charter members of Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church.

Randy, Jane, and Laura attended Catholic school and Mary started working for a local pediatrician. Mary loved working as a nurse and helping kids. In 1967 another baby girl, Mary Beth, was born. Later that year, Jack got a promotion and the family moved to Tyler, Texas. They all loved living in a small town and swimming at the Petroleum Club on Lake Tyler. The kids walked to the local public school and enjoyed playing outside every evening with friends. It was there that Mary and Jack welcomed their 5th child, Philip, to the family in October of 1968.

Jack's job changed after only a year in Tyler, and the family moved back to Irving. They were excited to find a home in their old neighborhood and renew old friendships. Mary went back to work for the same pediatrician where she had previously worked. Mary and Jack took the kids on family vacations every few years to Ohio to visit grandparents and family, and to Connecticut, where Mary's parents had moved. They also traveled to Arizona to visit some of Jack's aunts and uncles.

A few years later, Mary found her dream job as a research nurse at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. Participating in studies for UT Southwestern Medical School, she gathered information on kids who came to Children's outpatient clinics. She cared deeply about her patients and Mary would sometimes have to go pick up the kids at home so they could get their treatments. She had great colleagues and made lifelong friends at Children's.
Mary always supported her children in school and in outside activities. Even though she worked full-time, she attended most of her kids' sporting events and dance recitals. Randy played football and baseball, Jane and Laura played softball, Mary Beth was a dancer, and Philip was a soccer player. Mary greatly valued education and expected all of her kids to go to college. For a few years, Mary worked a second job in the newborn nursery at Irving Community Hospital. She was great at juggling work, kids' school schedules, and their many activities.

As the kids grew up and went off to college, Mary started playing bingo and loved it! She and her good friend, Julie, not only played bingo together, but went to Las Vegas and on a cruise to the Bahamas, gambling and playing bingo. Mary also enjoyed the fun times she spent playing bingo with her sister, Sharon, who came to visit from New Jersey.

As time passed, Mary's kids started having kids of their own, and it was Mary's joy to help with her new grandbabies. She was an expert in new baby care and an invaluable resource to her sons and daughters during those first days with a new baby at home. Mary always knew how to calm a crying baby and loved to listen to the sweet voices. Mary was very proud of her eleven grandchildren.

Mary even found time to go back to school and obtain her real estate license. She worked part time and enjoyed showing and selling houses. Mary retired from UT Southwestern in 1997, but didn't stop working. She became a travel agent and worked at an agency for a few years. She got to do some traveling and especially enjoyed going on a trip back to Panama.

Mary's life was very full. She enjoyed visiting her children and grandchildren in Texas, Seattle and Ohio, going to church and playing bingo with friends. She became an avid Beanie Babies collector in the 90s. She also loved listening to her favorite singers: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Neil Diamond, and Barbra Streisand.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother James Work, sister Jacquelyn Work Millette, and brother Thomas Work.

Mary is survived by her sister, Sharon Spoerl and husband, Lenny, of Summerville, SC; and by her five children and eleven grandchildren: John R. Petruska, Jr. and wife, Karen, of West Columbia, TX and children, Carrie and husband, Kyle Goodman, and Rich Petruska; Jane Crawford and husband, Kirk, of Ovilla,TX and children, Elizabeth Crawford and husband, Jeff Burkholder, and Emily Reichert and husband, David; Laura Mendel and husband, John, of Crawford, TX and children, Sarah, Jennifer, and Thomas; Mary Beth Petruska and husband, Mark Mitchell, of Bainbridge Island, WA, and children Blake, Andie, and Zoe; and Philip Petruska and wife, Michelle Bridges, of Norfolk, VA and son Nicholas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online at www.utsouthwestern.edu/donatenow to support Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Southwestern.

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