Mary Ache, 95, of Gilbertsville, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on September 24, 2017. She was the wife of the late Richard Ache who passed in 2002. Born in Black Hearth, Schuylkill County, PA, she was a daughter of the late John and Catherine (Makara) Machuzak, immigrants from the Ukraine. Mary graduated from Cass Township High School in 1940. She and several friends moved to Newark DE for better paying jobs. She worked as a powder weigher for detonators at the former Triumph Powder Co. during WWII. After weighing the powder and placing it in the cylinder, she would slide the cylinder through a small opening connecting her small cubicle to the next cubicle where the blasting cap was put on. A person had to be careful not to spill the powder and then slide the cylinder across it, which would cause the powder to ignite or explode. She said she had several frightening experiences and called it quits when the powder exploded in the face of one of the girls in a nearby cubicle. She packed her bags and moved back to Philadelphia where she took a job at Westinghouse as a metal fabricator. This is where she met her husband Richard. They were married for 59 years before he died from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. She participated in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk To End Alzheimer’s every year since his death.

The family moved a number of times throughout Richard’s career. Each new home brought unique construction projects which the family completed themselves. Being an avid gardener, Mary designed the landscape as well as planted the flowers. She became a vegetarian while in her 60’s. Her family was very important to her. Also, along with gardening, she enjoyed puzzles, bingo, drawing, knitting, and tatting.

Mary is survived by her children: Richard Jr. of Douglasville, Glenn and his wife Debbie of Newark, DE, Paulette Ache, wife of William Holst of California, Mary, with whom she resided; and two grandchildren. She was predeceased by her siblings: Anthony John, Michael, Andrew, Joseph, Stephen, and Anna.

All are invited to gather on Friday from 10 – 11 AM at Niantic Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Rd, Barto, PA 19504. Services will be held in the church at 11 AM. She will be interred with her husband in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 617 Main St., Hellertown, PA 18055 or to her church. Visit her “Book of Memories” at falkfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Ache, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.