Margaret A. Chizmar 1924-2025

Margaret’s life spanned a century from the Roaring 20s through the Great Depression, WWII, the moon landing, the digital age, into the 21st century and a new millennium. She saw friends and family leave to fight in wars, waited for her guy to come back from the South Pacific, married that guy and raised 10 children with him, watched as her children married and had babies, and then as following generations married and raised families.

Margaret Ann Meenachan was born Oct. 25, 1924, in Youngstown, the fourth of seven children and first daughter of the late Mary Gilbride Meenachan and John Joseph Meenachan. She attended Sacred Heart Grade School and was a 1942 graduate of East High School. She was a member of St. Brendan Church and a former member of St. Michael Parish.

Margaret married Michael Paul Chizmar on May 18, 1946, and loved the same man for 70 years until his death in 2017. Through those years, they worked together to keep their large family clothed and fed. Mom was the warm, happy, loving heart of the family. No one was more excited to hear our voices and no one looked at us with such love.

Her working life was varied, and included jobs at Isaly Dairy during her teens, as a real “Rosie the Riveter” during WWII at General Fireproofing, the school secretary for St. Brendan Grade School and as a clinical assistant at the AA Clinic. In her spare time, Mom was a Girl Scout leader, a president of St. Brendan’s Altar and Rosary Society, helped build the family cottage at Lake Milton, was a poll worker for the Mahoning County Board of Elections and volunteered to crochet tiny blankets for tiny babies born in a local hospital NICU. Her most important job was managing her family and home. Later, as Baba, she babysat her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed attending their school performances and sporting events.

This Irish lass learned how to make all her husband’s favorite Slovak foods from halupki to kolachi. Mom served traditional Slovak Christmas Eve dinners and Easter morning paska baskets, and taught us to celebrate both sides of our heritage. She had a magic touch, turning common days into holidays. Mom loved family gatherings, Cleveland Indians baseball, crocheting, card games, Sunday family dinners, reading, road trips, texting on her iPhone, crime shows, adventures, winters in Florida, family history and babies.

We see Mom’s legacy in our smiles and in the blue of our eyes; she will always be a part of us. We love her and will miss her always. We are grateful to be members of this big family Mom and Dad started so many years ago, and feel incredibly blessed to have had them in our lives.

Margaret has 62 direct descendants and 18 who married into her family. She leaves four daughters, Mary Margaret Chizmar Pharis, Louise Chizmar Easter, AnnaMarie Chizmar Frease (Carl) and Debora Chizmar; four sons, Peter Chizmar, John Chizmar (Janet), Leo Chizmar (JoAnn) and Martin Chizmar (Debi); two daughters-in-law, Kathleen Lowry Chizmar and Mary Lou Gardner Chizmar; 25 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Meenachan Valentine; and a brother, Thomas Meenachan (Sharon).

She was preceded in death by her husband; sons, Michael Chizmar and Kevin Chizmar; sons-in-law, Albert Pharis and Steven Easter; granddaughter, Margaret Kathleen Chizmar; sister, Elizabeth Meenachan Kazik; and brothers, Joseph Meenachan, James Meenachan and Donald Meenachan.

Friends may call 11 a.m. to noon Friday, March 21, 2025, at St. Brendan Church, 2800 Oakwood Ave., Youngstown, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests material tributes take the form of donations to your favorite charity. A private ceremony to place Margaret’s ashes in the family estate columbarium at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown, will be held at a later date.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences can be sent by visiting www.lanefuneralhomes.com.

“When Irish eyes are smiling,

Sure, ’tis like the morn in Spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter,

You can hear the angels sing.

When Irish hearts are happy,

All the world seems bright and gay.

And when Irish eyes are smiling,

Sure, they steal your heart away.”

(special notice)