May Elizabeth Moticko

May Conway Yuvan Moticko

A Life Well Lived

It is with great sorrow that our family announces the passing of our amazing Mother, May Elizabeth Moticko, 102 on Saturday, November 30, 2024, in her home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in the family home located on Jacobs Alley in Canonsburg, PA on July 26, 1922, the daughter of Everett Conway and Nora Cannon Conway. She was preceeded in death by her parents, both her first husband, Tony Yuvan and her second husband, Andrew Moticko, four brothers Archie, Everett, Norman and Edward Conway, and two sisters, Nora Lavenia Wright and Maria Isabelle Ullom and her grandson, Christopher Cox on December 19, 2023.

She was an active member of St. Oscar Romero Parish, a charter member of St. Oscar Romero Ladies of Charity, Pierogi Ladies, Parish Festival and Garden Volunteer, and Friends of the Montour Trail. She volunteered at area nursing facilities for over 30 years praying the Rosary on Thursdays and made hundreds of Lap Quilts that she donated to the residents. She retired from Bobby Brooks in 1987 as a presser. She worked hard her entire life to support her family.

May was an avid outdoorswoman whose love of nature defined her. She and her second husband had a home near the Allegheny National Forest, Forrest County and they enjoyed twenty years of living there from spring until the snow fell. Biking on the Montour Trail, Mingo County Trail and other trails were her favorite type of exercise. She rode the trails well into her 90’s and often rode more than 20 miles at a time. She was an expert quilter and made quilts for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. And in her later years made Rosaries for her family and friends. She loved the football season…watching the Steelers and keeping up on her favorite college teams of Notre Dame, Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia and others.

Left to cherish her memory are her four devoted children: Tony Yuvan and daughter-in-law Dianna Schnore Yuvan; Shirley Gottschalk and son-in-law Richard Gottschalk; Linda Cox and son-in- law Ronald Cox; Tona Pepper (the late Terry Pepper who was her fishing partner); thirteen grandchildren: Richard S. Gottschalk (Rhonda), Anthony Gottschalk (Michelle Lester), Susan Gottschalk (Shawn) Barnes, Nicholas (Dawn) Gottschalk, Matt Yuvan, Amy (Matt) Chester, John (Carrie) Yuvan, the late Christopher Cox (Keturah Cox), Michael (Anita) Cox, Robin Biers, Sarah (Jerry) Kraushaar , Lisa Pepper, Andrew Pepper; fourteen great grandchildren, one great great grandson Jackson Barthel, a second great great grandson due soon, and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her feline companion Freddie.

As Mom grew older, she instructed her children not to give her any material gifts but to do good deeds in her honor and write some of them on their yearly Christmas cards to her. With that thought in mind, in honor of our Mom, please consider a good deed in her honor. That will be an amazing gift for all of us.

She was a treasure to her family and friends and will be dearly missed. She left us with a lasting legacy of faith, truth and serving others that will always be with us. A special thank you to the staff of Pinnacle Catholic Hospice. 

Friends and family are welcome from 2 until 6 pm Thursday December 5, 2024, in SALANDRA FUNERAL and CREMATION SERVICES, INC. Joseph P. Salandra LFD owner/supervisor 304 West Pike Street Canonsburg (724) 745-8120 where departing prayers will be recited at 9:40 am Friday, December 6, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am in St Patrick Church 317 West Pike Street Canonsburg, followed by interment in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters Twp. To view or extend condolences please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.