Cecilia E. (Veneskey) McGary

MCGARY, CECILIA ESTHER “Dee Dee”, 82, Northern Cambria, died peacefully on Thursday, December 7, 2023.  Born April 28, 1941, in Spangler, the daughter of Zygmont and Mary Helen (Farabaugh) Veneskey.  Preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and husband of 60 years, Walter McGary Jr.; sisters, Bernetta Long, Nita Nealen, Rose Weiland, and brothers, Michael, Francis, and John “Jack” Veneskey.  Survived by children, Christine McGary, Elaine (Edward) Dospoy, Tony (David) McGary, and Lori (Michael) Tait.  Dee Dee also left behind grandchildren, Tyler Nelson, Alivia Tait, Noah, Elisha, and Ariel Dospoy, Aaron McGary, and Angie (Jonathan) Chapin; great-grandchildren, Ella and Nathan and special family friend, Sara McCloskey.  She is also survived by sisters, Mary Delaney, Margaret Griffith, Veronica Tinker, Mary “Germaine” Lanzendorfer; brothers, Sylvester “Dick”, and Daniel “Butch” Veneskey.  Dee Dee loved gardening, and her flower beds bloomed with gorgeous colors that were admired by many.  In the 1960’s Dee Dee was an excellent seamstress-- tailoring suits for the businessmen in town and making wedding and wedding party dresses for brides.  She was employed at Miner’s Hospital in Spangler for over 30 years as one of two seamstresses who made all the draperies in patient rooms which remained present when the hospital closed in 2000.  After Dee Dee retired, she and Walt traveled by car and visited almost every state and especially loved visiting Dave, Rose (McGary) and Doreen Collier.  She enjoyed years of bowling and was featured on “Bowling for Dollars” with Nick Perry.  She was one bowling pin away from winning it all!  One of her famous sayings was “You win some, you lose some.”  She loved music and dancing, especially Johnny Cash, the Mammas and the Pappas and Polka music.  When Dee Dee wasn’t dancing, she was an avid walker and was often seen around town walking the steepest hills and the high school track.  She was the Queen of thrifting and loved thrifting with her daughters and was proud of the stylish clothes she found through the years.  No public viewing will be held at her request, but if there were, she would have used one of her favorite sayings at the end. . . “Thanks for Coming!”  Moriconi Funeral Home, Inc., Northern Cambria in charge of arrangements.  The McGary family wishes to thank registered nurses, Sue Patterson and Sammy Brady for their hospice support and advocacy. 

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