Marge Dziama

After a simply amazing and fulfilling life, 105-year-old Margaretta “Marge” Dziama quietly fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, after hard work, service to others, and love for friends and families. She often said that she had four families: the Dziama’s, church, hospital, and devoted friends!

Marge was born in Jermyn, Pennsylvania on February 27, 1918.  Her father was Very Reverend Fr. Basil Dziama, Esq, a Mitered Archpriest, and her mother was Matushka Anna Lasichak Dziama. Her family moved to Lorain in the early 1920's when her father was designated as parish priest of Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. Her father then went to John Marshall Law School and received his JD degree, serving then both the church and the legal community.  

Marge graduated from Lorain High School with honors in the class of 1936 A.  After graduations, Marge worked for several years in an insurance office before getting a job as a reporter for Society Editor Rhea Eddy at the Lorain Journal. Rhea was the original Mary Lee Tucker. Next, she worked 6 years in the Lorain County Recorder’s office while attending Fenn College in Cleveland, studying music and criminal law. Marge then worked for 36 years at Lorain Works US Steel in the Metallurgy Dept. as Chief Metallurgical Clerk and attended Lorain County Community College, studying metallurgy of iron and steel.  Marge was the first woman to hold the clerk’s position and retired in 1981.  After a week of retirement, she said, "This isn't for me!" and she took to the road.

After retiring, Marge began volunteering more than 40 hours weekly at Lorain Community Hospital, which transitioned to Community Health Partners. During her 35 years there, she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary, served on the Lorain Community Hospital and Community Health Partners foundation board of directors, managed Volunteer Services, chaired two of the hospital follies, did clerical work, and served as editor of the volunteer newsletter.  The cafe just inside the main entrance of the hospital bears her picture and name.  It is aptly named MARGIE'S SACRED GROUNDS.

She was the first recipient of the Ruth Calta Award at Mercy Hospital, a former active member of the Lakeland Women’s Club, having served as president, and a former member of Colony Club.  She was also a member of other various local women’s organizations.

Marge was an active and devoted member of Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Lorain, having served as president of the church council, chief choir director for 35 years, directing the adult and cherub choirs. She wrote many coral arrangements; the most recent was the Lenten Vesper Service and much of the liturgical music used in the church today.

In addition to her musical skills, she was also an exceptional graphic artist.  Her steady hand and mastery of color made her Ukrainian Easter Eggs true works of art.  She was an avid Cleveland Browns fan and loved traveling around the globe, having visited no less than 30 countries.

She is survived by her nephews, Dr. Gregory Dziama (Terry Brosky) and Douglas (Karlene) Dziama, niece, Valerie (John) Mattey, along with her great nieces and families: Jennifer (Joe, Megan, Charlie) Teed, Susan (Srini and Sahana Rao) Dziama, Morgan (Bruno, Cal, Rocco) Catalano, and Meredith (Jake, Jax, Roe) Percival.  She and Roe shared the same birthday, only 95 years apart!  She lovingly nicknamed him, “My Birthday Boy”.

Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by her brother, Nicholas Basil Dziama in 2014.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 27th, from 2:00 p.m. until Parastas at 4:30 p.m. in the Dovin Funeral and Cremation Specialists, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 2238 E. 32nd Street in Lorain. Archpriest Joseph McCartney, pastor and Mitred Archpriest Basil Stoyka will officiate.   Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain.

Contributions in memory of Marge can be made to Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 2238 E. 32nd Street, Lorain, Ohio 44055.

We are going to miss you, Marge.  You will always be remembered as smart, talented, good humored, highly effective, spiritual, and devoted to your family.