Magdalena (Maggie) Imre Varga passed away peacefully on November 1, 2025 surrounded by her family in Ashland, Ohio at the age of 93.
Maggie was born April 14, 1932 in Baja Hungary. She married the love of her life Paul Varga in Csataja, Hungary on June 25, 1950. Paul and Maggie immigrated to the United States in 1957 during the Hungarian Revolution, one of the last to go through Ellis Island before it closed. Paul and Maggie learned the English language mainly through their five children while attending St. Peter’s Catholic School.
Maggie worked hard all her life to provide and care for her loving family, in the church rectory as a cook and housekeeper. Maggie eventually worked in the school cafeteria and ran a daycare at Park Lanes. Maggie also worked as a housekeeper for several families in Mansfield and later worked in the cafeteria and on the assembly line at General Motors where she ultimately retired in 1994.
Maggie touched many lives through her contagious personality. She was her kids’ biggest fan at their basketball games where she was the loudest in the crowd yelling, “get the rebound” in her strong English/Hungarian accent. Maggie never met a stranger. Everyone knew Maggie by her voice except the other team who would always ask “Who is that lady?”
She never shied away from getting involved and became her daughter’s softball coach even though she didn’t know the first thing about the rules of the game. Maggie was also known as the 50/50 lady collecting money to benefit St. Peter’s athletics. She was also known as “Mrs. GM” as her motto was “work like you own the place”.
Maggie gave generously of her time and talent to numerous organizations in Mansfield, OH including St. Peter’s Church, School, and Athletics, The American Red Cross, Richland County Probate Court Guardianship Program, several nursing homes, Catholic Charities and Hospice of North Central Ohio. Maggie was named Richland County 2012 Outstanding Senior Citizen for her volunteer work. Maggie believed and lived the mantra “If you have the will, you have a way!”
Maggie is survived by:
Her five children: Zoltan Varga (Irene), Arthur Varga (Barb), Agnes Varga, Elizabeth Snodgrass (Mike), and Paul Varga (Melissa); her 16 Grandchildren: Lindsay Hermany (Paul), Stephen Varga (Jeanine), Michael Varga (Lizzie), Shane Varga (Susie), Cory Varga, Nicholas Varga (Kelsie), Kathryn Varga, Daniel Varga (Liz), Samantha Sharrock (Travis), Zachary Snodgrass (Brianne), Maggie Snodgrass, Alexandra Balesteri (Frank), Christopher Varga, Andrew Varga, Erin Lidz (Kevin Townsend), Devon Lidz (Ashley Triplett) and her 16 Great Grandchildren: PJ Hermany, Max Hermany, Connor Varga, Jude Varga, Elizabeth Varga, Victoria Varga, Toben Varga, Harrison Varga, Seth Salisbury, Victor Varga, Owen Sharrock, Gracie Sharrock, Lane Sharrock, Holden Snodgrass, Finley Townsend, Kiera Townsend.
Maggie is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Paul, their son, Beluska, her parents Magdolna & Janos Imre, brother Janos Imre and 2 sisters Kathryn Gombos & Ilene Cseke.
The family would like to thank the wonderful and devoted staff of Brethren Care, Brookwood Place and St. Edward School and Church for the generous and loving care shown to her.
The family would also like you to join them to honor her memory, celebrate a life lived fully and one that continues to inspire us all. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4:00 – 6:00pm at Herlihy Funeral Home, 173 Park Avenue West. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00am Thursday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 60 S. Mulberry Street. Burial will follow at Mansfield Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in honor of Maggie to St. Peter’s Catholic School https://mansfieldstpeters.org/annual-fund/
www.herlihyfh.com
Funeral Home: Herlihy Funeral Home
Website: www.herlihyfh.com