Emma Louise Kurucz, 91, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, died Friday, March 24, 2023, in Belmont Manor Nursing Home. She was born on December 27, 1931, in Crescent, Ohio, a daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Bujka Vargo.

Our mother was a strong woman. In her 91 years of life, she had many things she loved. She loved to travel especially back to her beginnings to Budapest, Hungary. We lost count of the trips she made there to revisit family and she so loved the Hungarian cuisine. She was beyond an excellent cook and a baker. If you visited, she made sure you left with a full stomach. All her books of recipes would make any bookstore envious. It didn't stop there though her love of flowers and plants of any kind she could grow. Her flower gardens were beyond beautiful to see. She traveled to every greenhouse from here to Sugar Creek to find the perfect color and size. Springtime was her favorite time of the year as she said, "everything came to life again", and she could grow anything.

Her greatest love was her family. She loved watching her grandchildren grow to adulthood and was so excited to live long enough to watch her great grandchildren start their young lives. The love of her "faith" was beyond measure. She never faltered in her beliefs no matter what obstacle was put before her. Her trust in Jehovah guided her entire life. She remained faithful for 91 years, as she was a member of the congregation of Jehovah's Witness in St. Clairsville. As long as those who knew her continue remembering, she will never be gone, living on forever in everyone's memory. Our family will remember when ending conversations or leaving her home, she would say, "Be good, and I love you".

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Steve J. Kurucz; five brothers, Joseph Vargo, Alex Vargo, George Vargo, John Vargo, and Steve Vargo; two sisters, Helen Kanopsic and Velma Boggs.

She is survived by her two children, Sharon McCabe and Mark (Kim) Kurucz; four grandchildren, Kelle Tansmore, Kyle (Samantha) McCabe, Dusty Kurucz, and Kevin (Angel) Akers; four great grandchildren, Grace, Braxton, Axl, and Zoe; and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville on Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of services at 5 p.m., with Sam Elliott officiating. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America.