Trude Check-Tuhy, our dear
friend and co-founder of the Slovak Heritage Society of Northeastern PA, died
Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. Born in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of the late
Joseph A. and Mary Scerbak Check. She was a graduate of James M. Coughlin High
School, Wilkes-Barre and College Misericordia in Dallas, where she received a
Bachelor of Music degree. She was employed by British Overseas Airline
Corporation for two years as she continued her graduate work in music education.
From that time until retirement in 1993, she taught music for Wyoming Valley
West School District.
A gifted soloist, Trude
sang in many local churches, at Temple B’nai B’rith, and for several musical
organizations. She appeared in a number of musicals at the Little Theatre of
Wilkes-Barre. She served as a lector in St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Church.
Trude was a strong
proponent of her Slovak heritage, and the Slovak language. She was musical
director for the society, a tour leader for a number of excursions to Slovakia,
a member of many Slovak fraternal organizations, director of programs for the
World Festival of Slovak Youth, and an active participant of the King’s
College Ethnic Initiative.
A brother, William J.
Check, predeceased her in death. Surviving are her husband, Philip; a
stepdaughter, Elena V. Tuhy of Newark, OH; a sister, Betty Pirnick of
Wilkes-Barre; a brother, Dr. Thomas M. Check and his wife, Betty, of Gwynedd
Valley, PA; and several nieces and nephews.
Her memorial funeral mass
was held on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006 at her parish, St. Mary of the Immaculate
Conception Church, Wilkes-Barre. Concelebrating were Rev. Thomas V. Banick,
pastor; Rev. Monsignor Francis J. Beeda, STL, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church,
Hazleton, who gave the homily; Rev. Philip Altavilla, Rev. John Albosta, and
Rev. Patrick Sullivan. Bernadette Yencha was the cantor, and Mark Ignatovich was
the organist. Twenty-eight singers, all who at one time sang with Trude, formed
the choir.
The
society feels a great loss. Trude’s many ideas and hard work made the society
a vibrant enthusiastic organization. Her work will be remembered for a long
time. We accomplished many things through her leadership; including the many
recordings of Slovak music - the Caš Radosti
Christmas recording was her favorite, and the Rev. Jozef Murgaš video. Her
dream of publishing an English edition of Slovak Folk Customs and Traditions,
she saw fulfilled in 2005. Another of her favorite projects was the appearance
of the Bratislava Conservatory Ensemble at a Concert held in Wilkes-Barre.
Odpočinute
večne daj jej Pane, a svetlo večne nech jej sviety.
Eternal rest grant unto her Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
The
Psalm playing is Trude singing in Slovak, Psalm 23, Hospodin Je Môj Pastier
from the recording, Spev Sings/Trude Sings.