Memorial Contributions may be made to http://www.secondharvest.org 35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago IL 60601. Memorials will also be taken at the Funeral Home Sunday night 6 - 9 PM.


Mary "Polka Mary" Tomko, 92, formerly of 10 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City, died Monday afternoon at Rest Haven.

Born in Buck Mountain, Barnesville, April 15, 1916, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Helen Stahara Swerchak.

She lived in East Mahanoy Tunnel, Barnesville, before moving to Mahanoy City.

Mary had worked at Bavarian Festival, Barnesville, and City Shirt, formerly of Mahanoy City. She was a volunteer for the local Outreach Center.

She was a member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City. She had been a member of the former St. Canicus Church choir, Catholic Daughters Court Kateri, Mahanoy City Golden Age, the Mahanoy Area Senior Citizens, Anthracite Polka Association and the ACWU.

As the very first resident, she officially unlocked the door at Mahanoy City High Rise.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph R. Tomko, in 1975; sisters, Anna Smulligan and Helen Michels; sons-in-law, Andrew V. Riotto and Timothy D.J. Grickis Sr.; and grandsons, Michael J. Tomko Jr. and Trent James Grickis.

Surviving are sons, Michael Tomko, Trenton, N.J., and Joseph J. Tomko Jr., East Mahanoy Tunnel, Barnesville; daughters, Catherine Riotto Snopek and her husband, Edward Snopek Sr., Pottsville, Marianne Kuczynski, Piscataway, N.J., Elizabeth Grickis Harrison and her husband, Richard Daniel Harrison, Pottsville, Therese and her husband, David E. Clouser, Tamaqua; 21 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren, including Victoria Grace Harrison-Whyne, who was born the day after her great-great-grandmother died; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish. Interment will be in St. Canicus Cemetery, Mahanoy City, where a white dove will be released at the grave side in her memory. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home.

The family prefers donations to America's Second Harvest, which may be made at the funeral home.

You may leave a private condolence or sign the guest book if you would like.