Barbara Ann MACKOVJAK (née Bodnar) of Parma passed away on October 17, 2023 just two days shy of her 88th birthday. She was blessed with five wonderful children: Mary Hocking (Bill), Lori Waite (Marc), Rob Mackovjak (Sue), Craig Mackovjak (deceased)(Deanna) and Jennifer Mackovjak (Gregory). She had 15 amazing grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and four siblings. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert A. Mackovjak, known by many as "Bob Mack".
Barbara was born on October 19, 1935 to Bertha and John Bodnar (both deceased) in the hilly coal mining town of Rivesville, West Virginia. She is the dear sister of Dr. Julius Bodnar (deceased)(Fran), Johnny Bodnar (deceased), Elizabeth Graef (John, deceased) and Marguerite Butler. A true coal miner's daughter, nothing brought a smile to her face more than thinking about her family, faith, and growing up in West Virginia. Her parents emigrated to the U.S. from Hungary and after living for some time in Rivesville, moved the family to Cleveland where Barbara attended St. Patrick's grade school and Lourdes Academy in Ohio City from where she graduated in 1953.
Barbara stayed in the Ohio City area as a teenager and as a hip, fashionable young woman in the 1950s her first job in high school was at the then-trendy Red Robin dress shop on West 25th Street. She met her husband of 37 years shortly thereafter while the two were on a double date with their best friends. The dashing couple Barb and Bob moved to Parma where they lived the rest of their lives, raising their five children in St. Bridget's Parish of which they were founding members in 1958.
Barbara was a grandmother to 15 spunky, talented, and creative grandkids: Ryan, Kyle, Allison (Jeff), Trevor (Rachel), Halle (Corbin), Christopher, Claire, Mollie (Josh), Katie (Max), Grace (Jared), Annie, Morgan (Cory), Connor (Hayley), Mason, and Quin. She was a great grandmother to 10: Colin, Griffin, Beckham, Rollie, Beau, Liesl, Sophie, Anna, Lyla and Ellis. She shared a special relationship with her dear neighbor and best friend, Sheila Zielinski.
Barbara had a deep love for the poor and those less fortunate and often shared her favorite quote: "Live simply so that others may simply live." She truly embodied and lived by these words every day of her life and as such, her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the West Side Catholic Center, 3135 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 or Poor Clares Monastery, 3501 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44111.
As a final note, her family wishes to thank the tireless and dedicated healthcare teams from Vitalia, North Olmsted and Cypress Hospice. They cared for Barbara as if she was a member of their own family and for that, we are beyond grateful.
VISITATION, FRI. OCT. 27, 10:00-11:00 AM, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL, 11:00 AM, ALL AT ST. BRIDGET OF KILDARE PARISH, 5620 Hauserman Rd. Parma, 44130. INTERMENT, HOLY CROSS CEMETERY. To offer condolences please visit www.ZaborFH.com