Jean Schrift

Jean (Leja) Schrift, age 86, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2021 at her home in Cleveland, OH. Beloved wife of the late Charles A. Schrift; devoted Mother of Bruce of Cleveland, Yvonne (Steve) Burke of Fairfax, VA, and Renee (Juliano) Boronka of Cleveland; loving Grandmother of Matthew Burke (Elisa) of Ashburn, VA; and Aunt and Great Aunt of many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Ann Leja. The baby of eight children, she was also preceded in death by seven siblings: Amelia “Nellie” (Tony) Jordan, Bernard (Helen), Stanley, Frank, Caroline (James) Behe (who passed away just hours before her), Andrew (Margaret) and Irene. She is survived by her sister-in-law Regina “Jean” Leja of Lilly, PA.

Married for over 60 years, she was extremely close with her in-laws. Jean was sister-in-law to Patricia (Dennis) Penatzer of Ebensburg, PA; the late Dolores (Clarence) Farabaugh of Carrolltown, PA; David (Elener) of New Germany, PA; Ronald “Chick” (Gail) of New Germany, PA; Mildred “Millie” (George) Frank of Ebensburg, PA; Theodore “Hayden” (Patricia) of Munster, PA; William “Bill” (Janice) of Somerset, PA; Thelma (the late Kevin) Long of Ebensburg, PA; and Jean (Wally) Sliko of Ebensburg, PA.

Her parents were emigrants from Poland. They met, and in 1917 married, in Passaic, NJ. Jean was very proud of her Polish heritage. She loved to cook traditional Polish food, making the best stuffed cabbages and pork & sauerkraut. Her apricot kolaczki were heavenly. Her home was often filled with the sounds of polkas—her favorites included a trumpet, she was not a fan of the tuba!

A retired bank teller at Society National Bank (Ameritrust), Jean was first and foremost a loving and caring wife and mother. She enjoyed family vacations and camping trips, playing bingo, visiting casinos and solving word puzzles. She was an avid card player and loved playing cards with her sister-in-law Elener.

Jean will be remembered for her kind soul, sparkling eyes and cheerful smile.

Since 1962, she was a devoted parishioner of St. Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church, where she prayed and found strength. The family requests donations in her memory to St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, 10205 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44111. LINK: https://www.osvhub.com/sioa/funds

The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 3, 2021 from 4PM-6PM at Craciun Berry Funeral Home, 7200 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44102 and also at Charles O. Dimond Funeral Home, 621 Maple St., South Fork, PA 15956 on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 4PM-7PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 11AM at Immaculate Conception Church, 1635 New Germany Road, Summerhill, PA 15958. Committal Services to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.