Mary Ellen (Wolfe) Stecko

Mary Ellen (Wolfe) Stecko, 77, of Adamsburg, passed into eternal life on Monday July 15, 2024 at her Adamsburg home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born January 3, 1947 in New Kensington, a daughter of the late Eugene and Alice (Conroy) Wolfe. She was raised in New Kensington and North Huntingdon, PA. It was there that she met her husband, Dennis Stecko, after he helped her disconnect the odometer of her sister Eilene's car so that they could enjoy a ride together without anyone knowing. They married on April 12, 1969 and celebrated their 55th anniversary earlier this year. Mary Ellen graduated from Norwin HS in 1964, received her AA from Robert Morris, and worked for Irwin Sensenich prior to taking on her most cherished role - that of full-time Mom. She never complained as she managed a house full of three boys, and somehow was able to make sure all of her sons made it to each of their respective sports and activities. Mary Ellen was a woman of many talents - knitter, stained-glass chandelier and lampshade maker, typist, and unofficial world-record holder for fastest woman to back down a driveway according to her husband, Dennis. After her boys were grown, she picked up golf, which she played together with her husband and as a member of a women’s league at Mt. Odin Golf Course. She was a pioneer of the concept of the side hustle. She teamed with her sister Eilene for the company “Collectable Wares”, performed warranty repairs for Craftsman ratchets, and even wrote letters from Santa. Mary Ellen will be remembered as a fighter, having been diagnosed in 1995 with a then-fatal autoimmune disease called Wegener’s disease. Despite enduring decades of chemotherapy, she led a productive and fulfilling life after her children left the house. She was part-owner and founder of 80sTees.com with her son Kevin, a business that began on her dining room table. She worked for 80sTees from its founding until her health no longer allowed. She valued time spent with her family, especially attending the sporting events and musical performance of her 5 grandsons, and driving in her cherry-red Corvette. She will be remembered as both a fighter and a loving friend, cousin, grandmother, mother, and wife. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters - Alice Jean (James) Festa and Eilene (Andy) Mattis, brother - Thomas Wolfe, and nephew - Jimmy Festa. She is survived by her loving husband and steadfast caretaker Dennis H. Stecko; children Eric (Danielle) Stecko of North Huntingdon, Jason (Jill) Stecko of Greensburg, and Kevin (Brianne) Stecko of Hempfield; and grandchildren Hunter, Ty, Easton, Ryker, and Ronan. She is further survived by cousins, including Cathy Suley who helped in her care, nieces and nephews including Lori Festa, Darren Festa, and two nieces who stepped in to provide daughterly love to their Aunt who had only sons and grandsons - Kim Brough and Tammy Fleming. Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the William Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., 521 Main Street, Irwin, 724-863-1200. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, July 19, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, North Huntingdon. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Irwin. For online condolences please visit www.snyderfuneralservices.com.

Mary Ellen (Wolfe) Stecko

January 3, 1947 - July 15, 2024