Mary Cercone Halama

Mary (Cercone) Halama, 91 of Monaca, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at her home surrounded by her loving family.  Born December 31, 1928, in Pacentro, Abruzzi Italy, she was the daughter of the late Carmine and Rosina Cercone.   When Mary was five years old, she accompanied her mother to America to be united with her father whom she would meet for the first time and the family settled in Monaca.

She was a devoted member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Monaca.  Mary was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of America and the Christian Mothers.  Mary was devoted to prayer, especially the Rosary which she was never without.

Mary graduated from Monaca High School in 1946 and attended Geneva College and Robert Morris Business School.  She was always a career woman working in Pittsburgh in her early years and balancing her career and family after marriage.  She met Nikolaj at the West Aliquippa SOI Dance where he swept her off her feet and they married August 16, 1952.  Mary worked at Shippingport for Dravo Corp. and then moved on to Hussey Copper where she worked until her retirement, but it took 18 months after her retirement party to actually retire.

Mary found her real career passion after taking the Realtor Class at Penn State with her best friends Lizzy and Joe.  Mary was the only one who took the Realtor exam and passed on the first try as she always reminded us.  So, in 1974, she began her second career and kept her license current until her last listing in 2018 when she was 89 years old.  Many times, Mary would take young clients to see a house they liked, but Mary didn’t think was quite up to her standards.  She would advise them to save more money, call her in a year and she would have a better deal for them.  She most always got the call back and closed the deal with a house meeting her approval.  We couldn’t go anywhere in Beaver County where she wouldn’t tell us which house, she listed or sold.

The word that comes to mind to describe Mary best is giving.  She was the most giving, selfless person we know whether it was her time, food, money, or bargains she would find.  She volunteered for many years with her St. John’s group for Meals on Wheels, Howard Hanna’s Chow Chow for Children’s Hospital and Hussey Metals Christmas Party for employee’s children.

Mary enjoyed playing the penny slots and the poker tables whether it was in Las Vegas, Rivers, Mountaineer, or the Meadows.  When she hit, which she did often, she always shared her winnings with family and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Nikolaj “Nick” Halama in 2015, her son Michael C. Halama in 2017, and her son in law, William E. Armour in 2020.

Mary will be sadly missed by her children, David R. (Bea Fox) Halama, and Rosann Halama Armour, and her beloved grandson, Nicholas Edward Armour all of Monaca who feel truly blessed to have her as our mother.  Mary also leaves behind her nephews and nieces, Robert (Pam Brogan) Prisuta, Nancy (Kevin) Murphy, and Michael (Diane) Prisuta, and great nieces and great nephews, Mark (Ashley) Murphy, Megan (Saul) Murphy, Molly Murphy, Katie (Dan) Prisuta Chimera, Dan (Mandy) Prisuta, Anthony (Amy) Capuzzi, and Cayla (Tom) Dohey, MaryAnn Yuran, her very special friend and confidant, her Goddaughters, Bernie, Melissa, Joanne, and Ann Marie as well as her adopted great granddaughter, Danielle have lost a cherished treasure.

Friends will be received on Sunday, January 3, 2021 from 3:00 to 5:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Simpson Funeral & Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca where parting prayers will be offered on Monday at 9:30 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Monaca.   Private entombment will follow in the Beaver Cemetery

To share online condolences, light a memorial candle, add photos, and other information, please visit the permanent memorial at simpsonfuneralhome.com.