Loretta J. (Thomas) Zackowski

Loretta J. (Thomas) Zackowski, 65, of East Palestine, OH, formerly of McDonald, was taken by angels to heaven on December 16, 2015 after battling leukemia for the past three years.

She was born May 4, 1950 in Sewickley to the late Daniel Thomas and the late Wilma (Heaps) Krenzelak.

Mrs. Zackowski worked in the computer room at the former Harris Wholesale.

She was a collector: of music (she loved her oldies); of Yorkies (Nina, Dusty, Gus and Bailey); but most of all, she was a collector of people. Just give her 15 minutes of your time and she would have known your whole life history… and she would have made a new friend, of which she had MANY. She loved people, and people loved her. She was vibrant and had a big personality with a big heart to match.

On May 30, 1980, she became “Duchess” to her dedicated husband, Robert Eugene Zackowski, who survives.

Loving and protective “Mom/Ma” of Dawn (Steve) Whitten of Moon Twp. and Danny Charles (Kim) Thomson II of Burgettstown; feisty and loyal sister of Arlene (Fred) Loepp of Bolivia, NC, Jacquelin (David) Randour of Conneaut Lake, and Shirley Austin (Tom Wauthier) of Washington; adoring and faithful “Nana” of Zachary Austin Whitten and Danny Charles Thomson III; “Aunt Ret” the tell-it-like-it-is affectionate advisor of nephews and nieces, Dennis Gronski, Marc Loepp, Kimberly Loepp, Elizabeth Castano, Julie Kirouac, and Amy Conklin.

Friends will be received on Saturday, December 19, 2015 for visitation from 3 – 5 p.m., and funeral services at 5:00 p.m., at Nation Funeral Home, Inc., 220 E. Lincoln Ave., McDonald, with Pastor Jason Hefner of Faith United Presbyterian Church, Washington, officiating. Memorial contributions are requested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences, photos and additional information are available at www.nationfuneralhome.com.