Mount Carmel - Mary Louise Menko, 99, of Mt. Carmel passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 4th, 2023, surrounded by her family.

Mary Louise was born in Mt. Carmel on March 23rd, 1923, the daughter of Marguarite Dunleavy Dallatore and David Dallatore. She graduated from Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in 1941.

On November 24th, 1949 (Thanksgiving Day), she married Cyril Menko at St. Mary's Church in Kulpmont.

In her earlier years, Mary Louise was a Homemaker; later on, she worked for many years at Carl's Drive-in and in the garments industry. She was a life-long resident of Kulpmont and Mt. Carmel.

Mary Louise was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and a devout Catholic who routinely prayed the Rosary. She was very artistic and loved to sew, knit, and crochet; her family benefited from this greatly, always having beautifully crafted clothes, hats, and blankets. In addition, she was a talented cook, an exquisite baker, and loved playing card games with her family and friends.

After the death of her husband in 1965, she devoted her life to raising her five young children. Even though she faced a multitude of adversities in her life, she always pushed forward and made sure her family had everything they needed.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Cyril Menko, and her five siblings, Joseph Dallatore, Helene Sullivan, Bobby Dallatore, Edward Dallatore, and Genevieve Dallatore.

Mary Louise is survived by her five children: Susan Orgovan, Marian Deroba and her husband Joe, Rosemarie Jenkins and her husband Ken, Michael Menko and his wife Jeanne, and David Menko and his wife Francine. In addition, she is remembered by her 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren who lovingly referred to her as "Grammam."

No matter what you called her–Mary Louise, Mom, or Grammam– she always made sure you had food in your belly, a smile on your face, and joy in your heart. She will be missed by so many, but the love and kindness she spread during her almost 100 years in this world will live on forever.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11 a.m. with Father Francis Karwacki as celebrant in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Beaverdale. Viewing will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2023 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. with a Rosary at    8 p.m. in the C. J. Lucas Funeral Home, Inc., 27 North Vine Street, Mount Carmel and Friday, March 10, 2023 from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 47 S. Market St., Mt. Carmel, PA 17851.

Mass for Mary Louise Menko