Anna Marie Skocaj, 85, of Dover and formerly of Cleveland died Thursday after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Sept. 12, 1924, in Cleveland to the late Elmer and Viola Shawke. Anna, who moved with her late husband, Joseph V. Skocaj, to Dover in 1987 after rearing their family in the Collinwood area, was a homemaker, volunteer and, most importantly, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In addition to her membership at Dover St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Anna volunteered weekly at the Hospice Browse & Buy Store in New Philadelphia. She also was a member of the Tuscarawas County YMCA, exercising there regularly until recently. During her years in Cleveland, Anna volunteered at the Rosemary Home, a facility that assisted developmentally disabled children. Joseph preceded Anna in death on May 12, 2003. She is survived by son and daughter Joseph E. (Susan) Skocaj of North Olmsted and Suzanne M. (Dick) Farrell of Dover; grandchildren Kate (Brian) Burtch of Lakewood, Adrienne (Nick) Poelking of Cleveland, Christopher of Chicago, and Lauren of Cleveland; and great-grandchildren Sarah, Benjamin and Brendan. A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at 1 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 613 N.Tuscarawas Ave., Dover. Friends may call at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at 803 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, from 11:30 to 12:30 on Tuesday. Inurnment will follow at a later time at both St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dover and Oakdale Union Cemetery in Ashtabula County, near the old family farm. Those unable to attend, or who would like to share a fond memory of Anna may do so by clicking on the obituary link on the funeral home's website. Contributions can be made on behalf of Anna to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West 3rd Street, Dover, Ohio 44622. Toland Herzig Dover 330-343-6132 www.tolandherzig.com
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