Mary A Romanchuk

Mary Alice Romanchuk passed from this life on to her eternal home on September 25, 2017 in Plano, Texas with her family at her bedside. Mary was born on August 2, 1940 to her parents, Matthew McGuigan and Johanna Kearns in New York City, New York. She was the eldest of seven children growing up in Queens, NY.

Family and friends recall Mary as being a very loving and easy going person. She was always respectful of others which reflected her caring spirit. Mary thought of others before herself and had a burning desire to help others whenever possible. She was proud of her Catholic faith as a parishioner of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Frisco, TX. Mary had also served as a Eucharistic Minister and was a Franciscan.

Mary attended Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School in Brooklyn, NY graduating in 1958. She was proud of her life long occupation that of a Caring Mother and Loving Spouse. Mary enjoyed the Irish Tenors and going to the Dallas Symphony for their Christmas Concert. She loved movies especially The Sound of Music, Gigi, and The Quiet Man. Her favorite television shows were on the Hallmark Channel particularly the Hallmark Murder and Mysteries.

When asked where her favorite place would be, Mary would answer going snorkeling at the beach and sitting at the kitchen table reading the daily newspaper. Mary loved knitting where she made blankets, sweaters, hats and scarves for her family and friends. As a talented seamstress, she was always sewing, hemming, patching Declan’s pants, making baby bibs or dresses for the family. Mary was equally gifted in crocheting particularly baby booties when she wasn’t working in garden tending to her variety of flowers. She also found time to test herself with word jumbles, word search and crossword puzzles.

Mary married her sweetheart, Taras Romanchuk on October 9, 1965. She brought her traditions to this union including Hibernians, the well-known Irish Catholic fraternal organization which included making Irish soda bread, and corned beef and cabbage. Not to be left out, for Taras, she loved going to the Polish Festival in Riverhead and making Polish food. Mary loved the holidays and always made them special for everyone. Christmas was the highlight of the year with certain ornaments which had to be placed in very specific locations on the tree. A story is told that one year, the family had purchased a real tree and vowed that after suffering endless needle like pricks while placing the lights and ornaments that they would never repeat that mistake again. Mary enjoyed being with her family listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Matthew and Johanna McGuigan and her brother, Matthew McGuigan. Her legacy will live on through her husband, Taras Romanchuk of Frisco, TX; her son, Christopher Ronald Romanchuk and his wife, Cindy of Duluth, GA; her daughter, Tara Anne DeSpain and her husband, Brian of Frisco, TX; and the darlings of her life, her grandchildren, Baily Christopher Romanchuk, Dana Marie Romanchuk and Declan Ryker DeSpain.

Mary was loved while she was here with us on earth, and she will continue to be loved through time and all eternity.