At age 13, Mary Gojkovich had the awesome responsibility of helping her father and older sister raise eight children after her mother died in 1933.
Mrs. Gojkovich's daughter, Nadine Karas of Wall, said her mother put all her personal concerns behind her.
"My mother and aunt understood what needed to be done," Mrs. Karas said.
Mary Gojkovich Estok of Wall, a former tax collector and borough council secretary, died Monday, May 9, 2011, in Briarcliff Pavilion, North Huntingdon. She was 90.
Sacrificing for her family was typical of a woman who was admired for her devotion to her Serbian Orthodox faith and her Mon Valley community.
Born and raised in Wall, Mary Gojkovich was the daughter of railroader Gliso Gojkovich and his wife, Mila Gojkovich, who emigrated in the early 1900s from what now is Serbia.
"In her own way, Mom's life centered around the borough of Wall," Mrs. Karas said. "Besides serving as tax collector and borough council secretary, my mother would go to the borough building, where she would serve lunch for the youngsters in our community.
"The kitchen in our home was an open house for anyone who was hungry and welcomed a hot meal, especially after church on Sundays," Mrs. Karas said. "It seemed that there was something cooking on our stove at all times."
Mrs. Karas also recalled the pride that her mother had for the men, including her husband, Paul Estok, who served their country during World War II.
"My mother made sure that American flags were properly placed at the borough's war memorial on national holidays. And she had an album with photographs of everyone who served in the military during World War II," Mrs. Karas said.
Her devotion to her Orthodox faith also was a commitment handed down to her by her parents, who were members of St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Wilmerding and its present location in Monroeville.
"My mother was a past president of the Circle of Serbian Sisters of Wilmerding/Monroeville," said Mrs. Karas. "She was involved in every aspect of church life, including communicating with the priests and cooking for almost every church event."
Her granddaughter, Gina Stevens of McKeesport, recalled the time she spent with her grandmother.
"She was my teacher, especially when it came to our faith," said Stevens. "It was church every Sunday."
In addition to her daughter and granddaughter, Mrs. Estok is survived by siblings, Peter Gojkovich, Jenny Zigarovich, Violet Jokola, Betty Alfieri, Dolores Lonzo and Dinah Yurack; six grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, and her son, Paul Estok Jr.
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 9 p.m. today at the Alfieri Funeral Home, 201 Marguerite Ave., Wilmerding, with Pomen at 8 p.m.
The funeral service is at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Nicholas Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church, 2110 Haymaker Road, Monroeville.
