Donna J. Pongracz, 92, Devoted Her Life to Her Family

A lifelong resident of Lorain, she was born on August 30, 1934, the only child of William Emmitt Poirier and Mary Kneztic Poirier.

A 1953 graduate of Lorain High School, Donna married her husband, Julius “Juice” Pongracz on September 24, 1955. She devoted her life to taking care of her husband and daughters, Jill and Susie; supporting all their endeavors and volunteering for many organizations including the Vincent Elementary PTA, the Stop 7 Ladies Guild of the Hungarian Reformed Church and the Girl Scouts of America.

Her volunteerism also led to working as an Educational Aide at Vincent Elementary School in various capacities finding her calling in the newly formed school library. After attending classes at Lorain County Community College, she was certified to run the school library and shared with her students her deep love of reading. She was affectionately known as the “Library Lady” and her students thoroughly enjoyed her engaging storytelling skills, making fond memories that they recall to this day. She retired after twenty-seven years of service to the Clearview School District. She started a Junior Girl Scout Troop at Vincent and successfully ran a two-week Summer Day Camp for all of the Junior Girl Scouts in Lorain and Sheffield Village.

Donna became a very devoted member of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Lorain, Ohio UCC where she and her husband were married. She participated in numerous organizations including the Stop 7 Ladies Guild, served as President of the Busy Martha Guild, Caring Circle, Chairperson of the Guardian Angel Committee, and the Sick Visitation Committee. She worked tirelessly making phone calls and preparing our delicious Hungarian cuisine, even though she was Croatian, French Canadian and Irish! She was always willing to lend a helping hand with whatever needed to be done because she loved the church.

Donna supported her husband in all his endeavors whether it was at the church in Lorain or the national organizations involving the Hungarian Reformed Churches throughout the United States. When her husband became the Political Action Chairman for Steelworkers Union 1104, Donna helped him campaign for their endorsed candidates and attended the national convention with him in Las Vegas. She was a member of the Lorain County Democratic Women’s Club, campaigned for many candidates and was invited to attend their swearing in ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

Donna was the consummate hostess and loved entertaining her family and friends! She was very well known for her holiday decorating skills, but especially for her baked goods, which she so graciously provided for parties, weddings and showers, funerals, and church events. Several of her recipes were published in the local newspapers and are included in the church cookbook, “Sharing Our Best,” a project she spearheaded in 2003.

She is survived by her daughters, Jill Pongracz Murrell, and Susie (Larry) Fortner as well as grandchildren Rebekka Murrell, Zachary Murrell, William (Kelly) Fortner, and Sara (Brandon) Fine, great grandchildren Jackson and Kenna Fortner and Theodore and Bennett Fine, and many nieces and nephews.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Julius and her parents William Poirier and Mary Kneztic Poirier, as well as the siblings of her husband and their spouses. As an only child, she cherished her relationship with all of them.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 23rd from 4 to 8 p.m. at Gluvna Shimo Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Bradway Ave., Lorain, OH 44055 with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 24th at the Hungarian Reformed Church of Lorain, OH 1691 E. 31st St. with viewing from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to the Hungarian Reformed Church, 1691 E. 31st St., Lorain, OH 4055. Arrangements entrusted to the Gluvna Shimo Hromada Funeral Chapel.