Mary V. Moldea

Mary Virginia Moldea, 96, passed away peacefully on December 23. Born in Cleveland on July 16, 1922, the former Mary Craciun—“Mary Christmas” in English—was the youngest of six children: Joseph, Anna, Elizabeth, and John, along with John Andrews, a first cousin who was raised by the Craciuns. She is the daughter of Romanian immigrants John Craciun and Ana Farcasiu.

Mary married Emil Moldea in 1946, just before his senior year at Ohio State University where he was on the varsity football and track teams. After his graduation, they moved to Akron, Emil’s hometown, where they raised two children: a daughter, Marsha Lynn of Seminole, Florida, and an older son, Dan E. of Washington, D.C.

Mary worked as a medical assistant for Dr. R.E. Amos for ten years. She then worked for sixteen years as a senior medical assistant at the B.F. Goodrich Medical Center.

Along with her participation in the Junior Women’s Civic Club and the Akron Women’s City Club, Mary was also an active member of the Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church in Fairlawn. She sang in the choir for nine years and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. In addition, she was a former president of the Fellowship of St. Simeon, a religious organization for retired people. And she was a former board member of ARFORA, a national organization of Romanian women.

Since 2006, Mary has lived at Concordia at Sumner, a retirement home in Copley, where she loved its talented staff, as well as her many friends who were also residents.

Family, friends, and colleagues remember Mary, who always wore her heart on her sleeve, as a very loyal, generous, and caring woman. And they always enjoyed her wonderful sense of humor which she never lost.

She has numerous surviving nieces, nephews, and godchildren in Akron and Cleveland, as well as in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Nevada. In her later years, Mary was closely watched over daily by her daughter, Marsha; her niece, Diane Kisbac; her friend and caregiver, Grace Shaffer; and the professionals at the Memmer skilled-nursing facility at Concordia. During her final days, Mary was assisted by The Cleveland Clinic Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mary’s memory to the Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church—3365 Ridgewood Rd, Fairlawn, Ohio 44333, where all services will be held. The funeral will be on December 28 at 10 AM. Visitation for one hour prior to the service, officiated by Rev. Fr. Ian Pac-Urar. The family will receive friends from 4-7:30 PM with a Saracusta service at 7 PM on December 27 at the church. Interment will be at Rose Hill Burial Park. Arrangements are being handled by the Craciun Berry Funeral Home 216-281-7300.