Obituaries

Marion (Joseph) Harkema

Date of Death: February 4, 2023
Obituary

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Rhome Funeral Home Inc., 1209 Grand Blvd Monessen, where friends will be welcomed on Wednesday from 1-3 and 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11:00 at St Paul’s Lutheran Church of Monessen. Burial will follow at Mon Valley Memorial Park, Donora.

       In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to St Paul’s Lutheran Church of Monessen. 

Marion (Joseph) Harkema, 98, passed away on Saturday, February 4 in her home, surrounded by family. She was born Aug 2, 1924 in Monessen, daughter of the late Nick and Rose (Abraham) Joseph.
She was a lifelong, devoted member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Monessen where she served as Financial Secretary, Sunday School teacher, unofficial church historian, and volunteer in many church activities/ ministries including Social Ministry, WELCA, St. Afterschool, and making candy Easter Eggs with the ‘church ladies.’  She loved her Bible devotions, being a prayer warrior, and telling others about her faith in Jesus. 
She volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Westmoreland County Food Bank and United Cerebral Palsy. She loved hand quilting, crocheting, and cooking Syrian meals for family gatherings. 
A 1942 graduate of Monessen High School, and 1945 graduate of Passavant School of Nursing, she worked in surgical and bedside nursing at VA Hospital-Aspinwall, and Charleroi-Monessen Hospital, and retired as an industrial nurse from Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.
Surviving are her son- Elmer Harkema and companion Regina McGowan of Pittsburgh, daughter- Rebecca and husband Vince Abromitis of North Huntingdon, grandchildren-Elyse (Harkema) and Dan Kamen, and Erich Harkema and companion Maxine Erdman, great grandsons-Elijah and Ezra Kamen. Also surviving are numerous Nieces and Nephews.
Preceding her in death was husband of 64 years, Pearson (2016); brothers Al, John (Gloria), Nick (Dorrie), sister Lillian, nephew Jon Joseph, niece Barbara Weinstock, and daughter-in-law Erica Harkema.