Marianne Hornyak

Born Marianna (Mary Anna) Demchak on Aug. 21, 1931, in Ashland, she became known as Marianne and adopted the middle name Christine later in life. She was preceded in death by her father, Michael Demchak; mother, Mary (Feltovich) Demchak; beloved brother, Michael J. Demchak; husband and love of her life, Jesse A. Hornyak; and stillborn son, Michael Vincent Hornyak.

Marianne was a longtime resident of Pennsylvania, first in Mt. Carmel but spending most of her youth in St. Michael. She and Jesse briefly lived in Lewistown before building their home on Honey Creek Road, Reedsville. Once widowed, Marianne moved to Burnham and lived there until relocating to State College in 2022. She moved to assisted living in Ohio approximately a year later. In May 2025, she was moved to a nursing home under hospice care and remained there until her death. She never stopped missing her many friends in Mifflin and Centre Counties, especially her “daughter of the heart,” Beth Anne Bodtorf.

After graduating from Adams Township (now Forest Hills) High School in 1949, Marianne entered Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) on a full scholarship, where she earned a B.S. in Education. She then attended Susquehanna and Penn State Universities to become certified in Elementary Education. Marianne taught at Granville Elementary and Wayne Street School until her career was abruptly ended due to health problems. Thereafter, she dedicated her life to family and community as a homemaker and passionate volunteer.

Marianne was one of the founders of the Brown Township Home and School Association. She also co-founded Milroy Meals On Wheels and was founder and first president of the Kish Faculty Wives. For 12 years, she served the Girl Scouts of America as a leader and assistant leader. Marianne was a dedicated member of the Mifflin County Chapter of the PA Association of School Retirees for more than 30 years, serving as vice-president and chairperson of many committees. She made occasional trips to St. Michael to serve as clerk and guide for the Coal Miners Museum (now closed). The United Way, Friends of the Embassy Theater, Mifflin County Library, and Santa’s Book Bag also benefited from her talents.

By the time Marianne left Pennsylvania, she had been an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County for more than 60 years. In addition, she held memberships in the Mifflin County Historical Society, Mifflin Juniata Concert Association, Stone Arch Players, Friends of the Johnstown Flood, the Carpatho-Rusyn Society, and several school-related organizations. She was a long-time supporter of LUMINA, United Way, the Epilepsy Foundation, and others too numerous to list.

Her hobbies and interests were just as varied and plentiful. U.S. travel (48 of 50 states), reading, puzzles, scrabble and other board games, and swimming were among her favorites.

Family, though, was the most important thing in her life by far. She is survived by daughters, Karen Hornyak of Doylestown, Ohio and Elaine Hocker (Anthony Lamantia) of Toms River, N.J.; grandson Harry Hocker (Chris Lovett) of Mechanicsburg; and many dear nieces and nephews. She has also left behind several generations of cousins and extended family, whom she greatly loved and kept in touch with until her health made it impossible to do so.

Cremation has taken place, and there will be no funeral services. Arrangements have been kindly and competently handled by Zak- Thacker-Monbarren Funeral Home, Doylestown, Ohio.

If anyone wishes to make a contribution in Marianne’s honor, please consider the Mifflin County Historical Society, UU Fellowship of Centre County, or another of the organizations listed above.

Online obituary and guest registry are available at www.zakmonbarrenfh.com.