Eva Mergl

     Éva (Günther) Mergl, 92, of Shermansville, passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Manchester Commons Retirement Community in Erie.  She was born in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary on September 30, 1929 to parents Luiza and Lajos Gunther. She and her multitude of cousins and siblings enjoyed growing up in small town life—although she always longed for the adventure of going beyond her roots.

     After high school she became a secretary at the local factory, where she met her future husband, Charles.  They married on December 30, 1952. They soon had two daughters – Eva M. in 1953 and Kathryn (Kathy) in 1955.

     A year later, Hungary initiated a student led revolution against Soviet occupation. Things did not go well, so Eva and Charles decided to pursue a life of freedom in a different land. On a dark night in November, they made a harrowing trek across mined fields with their children and were welcomed into Austria before the iron curtain closed completely a few days later.

     For almost 2 years they stayed in an attic apartment with relatives in Germany. They reached out to several locations and were invited to the US by a Hungarian-American pastor in Pittsburgh who mentored and supported them as they adjusted to life in America.

     Six years later, they moved to Atlantic and Charles earned his Professional Engineer certification to serve as a District Bridge Engineer for PennDOT. They thoroughly enjoyed country life with a large garden, as well as raising ducks, chickens and a turkey. In 1985 Charles went to be with our Lord after a lengthy battle with cancer.

     Eva was a very active member of the Fallowfield United Methodist church and remained so as long as she was able. She also became enthusiastically involved with gardening – flowers in particular. She was certified as a Penn State Master Gardener (MG) and became one of the go to people regarding even the most obscure knowledge about any plant.  As a member of the local MG group and several other flower clubs, she was very busy helping to make surrounding communities brighter.  Her beautiful wildflower bouquets, tender spirit and kind heart will be sorely missed by family and friends both near and far away.

     Eva is survived by her two daughters – Eva, Linesville, PA and Kathy, Chelsea, AL.

     Calling hours will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U.S. Highway 6, Linesville.  Additional calling will be on Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.    

     A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Rev. Les Hutchins and Rev. Russ Hines, co-officiating.   

     Burial will be private in Southside Cemetery in Shermansville. 

     Please share a condolence or memory of Eva for the family at www.royalcolemanfuneralhome.com.

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