Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home
Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | June 21, 2024
Irene A. Levdansky (nee Tabory) 97, formerly of Elizabeth, passed from this world into everlasting life at The Residence at Hilltop on June 19, 2024. All whose life she touched knew her to be a sweet, generous, loving soul with a ready smile and a kind word to all she knew. Born August 24, 1926 in Monongahela, PA, the fifth of seven children of Stephen J. and Antonia E. Tabory (Masura), Irene was an avid baseball fan and met her lifelong love, Walter Levdansky, at the Black Diamond baseball field. They married on April 14, 1951. Walter built the family home on Center Avenue in Elizabeth where they raised their five children: JoAnn, David, Jane, Bob, and Jim. Typical of women of her generation, Irene was the nucleus of the family. While Walter worked as a carpenter at US Steel (and other side jobs), Irene was a stay-at-home, 24/7 mom, who raised her children, helped them with their homework, and still managed to make and have dinner on time. She ran an impeccable household. Though family finances were always tight, Irene made sure that her children always wore clean clothes, were polite and mannerly, and were well fed. Her Slovak cooking (halupki, halushki, stuffed peppers, drobie/cunsetta) was augmented by her own culinary creations (lasagna, breaded zucchini, BBQ chicken, meat loaf, and her famous iced tea). The family vegetable garden provided fresh vegetables and tomatoes and berries for canning which were annual endeavors. Her home was surrounded by the flower gardens that she enjoyed cultivating as well as attending ceramic classes. She was a lifelong member of St. Michael’s Church (Elizabeth) and later St. Isaac Joques (Elrama) Catholic churches. She lived her entire life as a devout Catholic rooted in the belief that love is God’s gift for all to share. She was a member of St. Michael’s Christian Mothers, St. Michael’s Choir, and the Elizabeth Area Community Chorus. She raised her children with love and affection and instilled the values of hard work, kindness, generosity, and hospitality to her children and grandchildren. Irene lived her life in service to God and to all she knew and loved. She was selfless in every way and demonstrated this quality every day of her life. She cared more for others’ needs than her own. She found comfort and happiness in life’s simplest pleasures: a cup of tea in the morning, iced tea on a hot day, and hugging her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all whom she loved. With a warm smile and a quick compliment, she brightened the day of everyone in her daily life. Irene has left this world to that of eternal peace and happiness to be with her husband Walter; her son, Bob; sisters, Helen Baron, Viola Sikora and Marge Tabory; brothers, Joe and Walt Tabory; and her mother, Antonia and father, Stephen. She is survived by her sister, Anna Tabory; sisters-in-law, Jean Levdansky and Stella Godlesky; daughters, JoAnn (Phil) Codelka and Jane Levdansky; sons, Jim (Susan) Levdansky and former State Representative, David Levdansky; grandchildren, Shane, Timothy, Joseph, Preston, Savannah and Mei Huan Lafferty-Levdansky; great-grandchildren, Maddax and Mykah, Seth, and Acelynn; and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to all the staff of The Residence at Hilltop where the professional support and compassionate care greatly enhanced mom’s quality of life for the time she lived there. We consider the Hilltop staff to be a valued part of mom and our extended family. Friends will be received in the Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home, 221 North Second Avenue, Elizabeth on Sunday, June 23, 2024, from 2-6 PM and Monday, June 24, 2024 from 9:30-11 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Monday, June 24, 2024 at 12 NOON at St. Joachim and Anne Parish, St. Michael Church in Elizabeth Twp. with the Rev. Thomas J. Burke officiating. Burial will follow in Round Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth Twp. If you would like to make a memorial contribution, please do so to the charity of your choice or to Breakthrough TD1 (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), 501 Martindale Street, Suite 670, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Offer condolences at www.bekavacfuneralhome.com.
Originally published June 21, 2024.
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