Obituary of Marcella R. Svatos

Marcella (Sally) R. Svatos, 92, Omaha, Nebraska, died Saturday morning (February 7, 2015) at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital, Omaha. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Yankton with Rev. Ken Lulf officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 PM, Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a 7 PM Rosary followed by a 7:30 PM Scripture service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Pallbearers are Derek Svatos, Doug Svatos, John Svatos, Scott Svatos, Jacob Gallagher, and Ryan Gallagher. Marcella was born June 25, 1922, to Frank and Frances Schulte of St. Helena, Nebraska. She grew up on the family farm, attended Catholic grade school in St. Helena, and graduated from Wynot, Nebraska, High School in 1939. After graduation she was employed in Yankton as a maid for several years and then accompanied an uncle and aunt to Alton, Illinois, where she was employed at Owens Glass Company for approximately four years. She returned home to assist with the care of her mother and worked as a drill press operator at Crall Freeman Manufacturing in Yankton for two years. She married Laddie E. Svatos May 6, 1946, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Helena. The couple lived in Omaha, Nebraska, until 1947 when Laddie began employment with Rhian Oil Company, Yankton. Laddie died in 1999, and in 2003 Marcella moved to Seven Oaks at Notre Dame Retirement Community in Omaha, Nebraska, to be closer to family. She remained at Seven Oaks until 2014 when she moved to Parsons House Assisted Living Facility, also in Omaha. Marcella was a member of the Catholic Daughters Rosary Makers for more than 50 years, serving as secretary for 13 years; St. Benedict Parish Funeral Committee; Meals on Wheels; and the VFW Auxiliary. She also had a weekly adoration hour at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton for more than 10 years. Prior to her husband's retirement, she worked on a part time basis in Yankton for Coast to Coast Hardware, Stevenson's, McEvoy's Dress and Apparel, and was a seasonal employee of Gurney Seed and Nursery for 7 years. She is survived by three children: Gary (Marlene) Svatos of Lincoln, Nebraska; Dan (Jeanne) Svatos of Omaha, Nebraska; Judy Gallagher of Owatonna, Minnesota; daughter-in-law (Elizabeth) of Omaha, Nebraska; 8 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, 1 sister, her husband, 1 son (Dale Svatos, Omaha), and 1 grandson (Eric Svatos, Omaha). Memorials are directed to St. Benedict Catholic Church, 1500 St. Benedict Drive, Yankton, SD 57078.