Julia Pryor

POLAND - Prayers will be held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Church for Julia "Jaye" Serich Pryor, 88, who passed away Sunday morning at her home, with her family by her side.

Jaye was born July 20, 1926, in McKinley Heights, a daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Sennyk) Brutka.

During World War II, Jaye was employed at the G.E. Lamp Plant in Warren, where she made headlights for airplanes. She was a charter member at the Holy Family Church, where she was also the first Altar Guild member and was a member of many committees. Jaye was also an active volunteer at St. Elizabeth Health Center and Easter Seals.

For many years she was a foster mother to many newborn babies, but she eventually had to stop because it became so hard for her to let them go. She also was a member of many bowling leagues and card clubs in the area. Jaye had a passion for cross stitch, she has made 172 pictures.

Her greatest love was for her family, especially her grandchildren. Jaye made a calendar of all of her grandchildren's activities and sporting events, just to make sure she never missed any. If any fans were at a game and needed to know the score, all they would have to do is find her in her chair and she would have the official "Fan Scorebook."

Her first husband, John J. Serich, whom she married May 6, 1950, passed away Nov. 7, 1969.

Jaye leaves her husband, James L. Pryor, whom she married Dec. 6, 1974; her children, Jane (Ken) Mills, James (Kelly) Serich and Kathryn Mincher; her stepchildren, Kevin Pryor, Mary Ann Pasternik, Tom (Debbie) Pryor, Mark (Maxine) Pryor, Bob (Audrey) Pryor and John (Roberta) Pryor; seven grandchildren, Jared (Claudia) Seefried of Denver, Jolene Seefried, Melissa Serich of Baltimore, Shaun Serich, Kasie Serich, Breanne Mincher and Braeden Mincher; 11 stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren, Elijah and Adelynn; and four sisters, Rose Leskovec, Nettie Juvancic and Minya (Carl) DeMas of McKinley Heights and Dorothy Basilone of Hermitage, Pa. Jaye will also be loved and missed by her numerous nieces and nephews.

Jaye was preceded in death by three sisters, Katie Kocjan, Anne Miller, and Tish Yourchisin; and two brothers, John "Bert" and Raymond Brutka.

Family and friends may pay their respects Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel.

Material tributes may take the form of donations to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512, or Easter Seals, 721 Boardman Poland Road, Youngstown, OH 44512.

Burial will take place at Lake Park Cemetery.

"We had a wonderful Mother, one who never really grew old. Her smile was made of sunshine and her heart was solid gold."