Marcella Jean Drinan

Marcella Jean Drinan was born on March 20, 1933, to Francis Joseph Sudoma and Mary Burnadette Sudoma (nee Pastor) in Streator, Illinois. She was the oldest of four children who have all preceeded her in death; brothers Robert and James Sudoma and sister Marylou Anderson.

Marcella attended St. Stephens Elementary school in Streator, which was the first Slovak catholic grade school in the US, and graduated from Streator High School. She began and ended her life long commitment to the roman catholic church as a member of a St. Stephens (Steven’s) parish.

Music was an integral part of her life, as she learned to play the hawiaan guitar in her teenage years, while always singing in church choir and community events.

Marcella maintained many of the Slovak holiday traditions with her children that she inherited and enjoyed with her parents and grandparents. Although she understood the Slovak used by her parents and grandparents, they encouraged to only speak english to be more American.

Her father worked at Owens Illinois in Streator for more than 47 years, and her mother was a consumate cook and baker for the family.

After marrying the love of her life, Douglas, in 1954 they relocated to Long Beach, CA where he was stationed during the Korean War and had their first of six children, Tresa Diane. After Doug’s Korean war service they moved back to Streator and grew their family with four more children, Cynthia Louise, Patricia Ann, Daniel Joseph and Darrel Dean.

They moved to Princenton, Il in 1966 and she began her news reporting career at WZOE radio and acquired her professional nickname “MAC”. In 1969 Marcella and Doug moved their family to Scottsdale and in 1974 the welcomed their sixth child, Douglas James.

She is survived by her six children: Tresa Cooper, Kirkland, WA; Cynthia Paletsos, Chandler, AZ; Patricia Johnson, San Diego, CA; Daniel Drinan, Indianapolis, IN; Darrel Drinan, San Diego, CA; Douglas James Drinan, Columbus, OH, and her brother-in-law Thomas Drinan, Tempe, AZ.

Grandchildren: Ryan Cooper, Rachel Nyman, Nikos Paletso, Nick Frederick, Michelle Allen, Stefani Molinar, Alex Frederick, Garrett Johnson, Maddison Schiller, Daniel Drinan Jr., Olivia Drinan.

Great Grandchildren – Emily Nyman, Zachary Nyman, Shakira Jenkins, Kenja Jenkins, Bryson Frederick, Aubrey Frederick, Caylee Frederick, Grace Frederick, Carter Allen, Jonathan Allen, Haley Molinar, Raelynn Salazar, Logan Salazar, Karsen Shane.

Marcella’s love of professional basketball began with the 1976 Phoenix Suns playoff series with the Boston Celtics, and she never liked the LA Lakers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavs or Golden State Warriors.

Her love of Indy car and NASCAR racing was an extension of her husband and son’s Danny and Jimmy’s 40 year history in the sport.

Marcella was known to have a clothing, chocolate and moscato wine obsession.

One of the more memorable stories her children wanted to share was once her and her husband Douglas became empty nesters they would take their boat to the local lakes around Phoenix on the weekends . . . and as the story was shared by her children . . . Marcella was driving the love birds back from the lake one weekend a man suddenly passes them on the narrow road from Canyon Lake and stopped his truck in front of theirsk, waving his hands to stop them . . . he then walks up to the truck and informs them that their boat had fallen off the trailer a couple of miles back. . . and neither had noticed!