Tina Virginia “Peaches” Aldridge DeMary, Class of 1945, passed away Tuesday, December 17.

Peaches is survived by her children, Patti Evans and her husband Brian of Fairmont, Mike DeMary and his wife Beth of Monongah and Betty Anne DeMary of Fairmont with whom she made her home.     

Peaches was predeceased by her husband, Frank DeMary, Jr., Class of 1947; a brother, John Aldridge and his wife Mickey; sisters, Betty Aldridge and Dorothy Basagic.

Frank and Peaches once had a grocery store at the end of Bridge Street in Monongah before they moved to Rivesville. DeMarys’ Market in Rivesville, run by the late John June DeMary, Class of 1937, sometimes gets confused with the DeMary Grocery in Monongah, which Peaches and her husband operated at the end of Bridge Street in Monongah before they moved to Rivesville. Previously, Peaches and Frank owned a grocery store in Pennsylvania.

John June’s cousins include Ann DeMary Eates, Class of 1945, married to Joe Eates, also Class of 1945, and living in Monongah at the bottom of the Bridge Street hill.

Patty DeMary Evans, Class of 1972, Peaches' daughter, is married to retired coal miner Brian Evans, Class of 1969. They live in Fairmont but have spent some time on Carrabelle Beach in Florida’s northwest panhandle, on the Gulf of Mexico coastline southwest of Tallahassee. Patti is a retired nurse (1987-2006) and graduate of MHS and Fairmont State.

Frank, Jr.’s parents were Frank Joseph DeMary, who passed away in 1972, and Lena Duva DeMary, who passed away in 1986. His siblings are Louise DeMary Lusi of Clearwater, Florida and Rose Ann DeMary Flore, Class of 1943, married to Robert and living in Princeton, Rhode Island.

Frank, Jr.’s brother, Joseph A. DeMary of Rivesville, passed away in 2007. Joe’s children are Kimberly Jo DeMary Clowers, married to Earl Clowers and living in Rossville, Georgia; Sgt. 1^st Class Joanne Mary DeMary of Fort Meade, Maryland; another Joseph Allen DeMary, living in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee with wife Yvonne; and Julie Ann DeMary, also of Soddy.

Peaches, which Patti Evans told me was given to her by Peaches’ father when she was a baby, was an appropriate nickname for her. She was, indeed, a peach that I remember from my younger days in Monongah although she graduated five years before I did.

Peaches’ niece, Jennifer Aldridge Payton, proves a loving and accurate description of her:

“My Aunt Peach was the sweetest lady I’ve ever met. I remember growing up thinking how beautiful she was. It seemed like she never aged. Please keep her children, grandchildren and all who loved her in your thoughts though we know she’s at peace. This will sure leave a huge void especially now during the holidays. Love you Patti DeMary Evans, BettyAnne DeMary and Brianna Evans Wimbish.”

Jennifer is an assistant teacher at Learningland Daycare & Preschool and worked at North Central West Virginia Community Action Head start program and at WVU Medicine Children's Wing. She lives in Worthington.

Peaches was in the same class with Jackie Bagshaw Cogar, who married the son of Ava and Fred Cogar of Cottage Street. Ava was the best friend of my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, who lives across U.S. 19 on Church Street from the Cogars.

Also in the 1945 class was Freda Brzuzy, sister of the late Walter Brzuzy, in my Class of 1950. And Mary Catania Heywood, who was two doors down from the Olesky rental on Thomas Street before she moved to Covina, California, where she lives today. Her sister, Josephine, was near my age and we were friends.

And, Monongah’s sweetheart, Ann DeMary Eates, married to Joe Eates and living on Bridge Street. Ann and Joe are the godparents of my son, John Larry Olesky.

And Walter Debalski, Jr., a Marine war hero; Nick Demus, a football hero at Monongah High; and Raymond Vingle, of the famous musical Vingle family.

Class of 1945 was an amazing class that graduated as World War II at last was winding to  its end.

Peaches’ obituary:

Visitation
Friday, Dec 20, 2019
3:00 PM-8:00 PM

Vigil Rite
Friday, Dec 20, 2019
7:00 PM

Catholic Funeral Liturgy
Saturday, Dec 21, 2019
10:00 AM

Tina "Peaches" DeMary

June 05, 1928 - December 17, 2019

Tina “Peaches” Virginia DeMary, 91, of Fairmont, passed away Tuesday, December 17, 2019. She was born in Monongah on June 5, 1928, a daughter of the late Edward Aldridge and Opal Cox Aldridge.

Tina is survived by her children, Patti Evans and her husband Brian of Fairmont, Mike DeMary and his wife Beth of Monongah, and Betty Anne DeMary of Fairmont with whom she made her home; three grandchildren, Brett Evans and his wife Crystal of Pittsburgh, Brianna Wimbish and her husband Chuck of Fairmont, and Jeremy Evans and his wife Jennifer of Fairmont; and six great grandchildren, Joshlynn and Marissa Boone, Maddox Wimbish, Camden, Brayden, and Brea Evans, who filled her days with love and happiness.  Also surviving are several nieces and nephews; special cousins Ann and Joe Eates of Monongah; and her dog, Koby.

In addition to her parents, Tina was preceded in death by her husband, Frank DeMary, Jr.; a brother, John Aldridge and his wife Mickey; sisters, Betty Aldridge and Dorothy Basagic; a nephew, John Rodney Basagic; and great nephew, Bobby Aldridge.

The family would like to give thanks to Dr. Ang and his office staff, the staff at St. Barbara’s Memorial Nursing Home, Monica Taylor with the Marion County Senior Center, Debbie Vandetta – her family friend and personal beautician, and Amedisys Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Barbara’s Activity Center or the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Friday, December 20, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Vigil rites will be Friday at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. with Deacon Lou Belldina. Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. with Father Vincent Joseph as celebrant. Interment will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Fairmont. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .