Mary Bickerton

Mary Bickerton, 99, of Center Twp., passed away early Friday morning, February 20, 2015.Born September 28, 1915, in Moundsville, West Virginia., she was the oldest daughter of the late Paul and Anna (Smerekanich) Zaperach. Mary worked at the Marx Toy Factory in Glen Dale, West Virginia; Isaly’s in Monaca and the Hoffman Drug Store in Center Township. A member of Holy Ghost Orthodox Church in Ambridge, she also attended Bunker Hill Community Church in Center Twp. Mary will be fondly remembered as a very good cook and homemaker and enjoyed working with ceramics. Additionally, she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of Center Township Fire Department #1.She is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Robert E. Bickerton. They were married on July 12, 1941, at the Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa. She also leaves two sons, John (Kathryn) Bickerton of Center Twp. and Mike (Nancy) Bickerton of Laurel, Delaware; two grandsons, Robert (Brooke) Bickerton of Beaver and Timothy Bickerton of Pittsburgh; three granddaughters, Rebecca (Dan) Bickerton-Zurawski of New Market, Maryland; Kailyn Bickerton of Laurel, Delaware and Aimee Mankins of Ventura, California; four great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Matthew of Beaver, and Sascha and Rachel of New Market, Maryland; three brothers, Charles and Peter Zaperach of Center Twp. and Paul Zaperach of Calcutta, Ohio; a brother-in-law, James Zoppelt; two sisters-in-law, Candy Zaperach and Thelma Burkett of Tuscon, Arizona, and many nieces and nephews who considered her as a mother.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, John, Anthony, Andrew and Frank Zaperach; two sisters, Emma Slie and Julia Zoppelt; two sisters-in-law, Sophie and Anna Mae; two brothers-in-law, Charles Slie and Willis Bickerton and a grandson, Andrew BickertonFriends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Simpson Funeral & Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, where funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. The Very Rev. William J. Evansky, pastor of Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, Ambridge, will officiate. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery.Contributions in memory of Mary made be made, if desired, to the Beaver County Humane Society, 3394 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001.The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the nurses and aides at Friendship Ridge, 2 E, for their kindness and love. It is greatly appreciated.To share online condolences, get directions and other information, please visit simpsonfuneralhome.com.