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Smaller textMurrysville conservative's qualities aided in founding library
Edna Mae Turek
Jerry Vondas is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-320-7823 or via via e-mail.
Edna Mae Turek's reputation of being diligent and detail-oriented in every aspect of her life was put to the test at the Murrysville Community Library.
"My mother was a strong supporter of literacy," said her daughter, Marcia Trokhan of Hamilton, Ohio.
As president of the Murrysville Women's Club in the late 1950s, she urged club members to raise money and collect books for the library, which was founded in 1922. Today, the library, with its 65,000 volumes, serves more than 15,000 registered card holders.
Edna Mae Turek of Hamilton, Ohio, formerly of Murrysville, died on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, in Berkeley Square Retirement Community in Ohio. She was 85.
Born and raised in Aspinwall, Edna Mae Harrison was one of two children in the family of businessman Fred Harrison and his wife, Edna McRoberts Harrison.
She graduated from Aspinwall High School and briefly attended Allegheny College in Mercer County prior to marrying Henry "Sonny" Turek in 1943, while he was serving in the Marine Corps during World War II.
Upon settling in Murrysville in the 1950s, Mrs. Turek became a member of the Murrysville Garden Club and with her husband joined the Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Marnie Silbert, who got to know Mrs. Turek in her later years, recalled Mrs. Turek as an affable woman who attended church every Sunday with her family.
And as a member of the Garden Club, Mrs. Turek participated in its annual flower shows.
Jennifer Trokhan of Cincinnati recalled how her grandmother used her arranging skills at Easter. "She'd make an Easter basket, complete with toys and candy for all of us. And we'd spend all day going through her house to find them."
Mrs. Turek was an accomplished pianist and organist, and enjoyed playing bridge, traveling and camping after retirement.
Marcia Trokhan said her mother was a staunch Republican who for many years served as office manager for the Westmoreland Republican Committee headquarters in Greensburg.
"My mother was a die-hard conservative who knew how to stretch a dollar," she said.
In addition to her daughter, Marcia, Mrs. Turek is survived by her daughter, Patricia Leitsch of Hamilton, Ohio; son, Dan Turek of Harleysville, Montgomery County; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Turek was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Turek, in 2004, and a brother, Raymond Phillip Harrison in 2007.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday with services at 2 p.m. in Hart Funeral Home Inc., 3103 Lillian Ave., Murrysville, with the Rev. Marnie Silbert officiating.
A memorial service will be scheduled in Berkeley Square Retirement Community.
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