Agatha Theresa Satola

Agatha Theresa Homan Satola, born on March 4, 1924 in Sugarloaf Pennsylvania, the seventh or eighth child (Cyril, Beatrice, Margaret, Victoria, Helen, Bernice, Constance, Agatha, George, Barbara, Michael, Audrey, Mary, Joseph) of George Joseph Homan (Feb. 1888 – Jan. 3, 1948) and Mary Ann Hritzko Homan (Aug. 25, 1892 – May 9, 1973). Along with her brothers and sisters, she attended Black Creek Township High School, and in later years would recount fond memories of those experiences. During World War II, she helped the war effort like a true Rosie the Riveter of the day, but instead of riveting pieces of metal together, Agatha became a top crane operator, given the difficult task of precisely machining out huge heavy metal cylinders, which were then used for the barrels of cannons as well as the shell casings for large artillery shells and aircraft bombs. Agatha enjoyed those days because she “was in great demand for her special skills and ability to catch on quickly.” She later went to work at RCA, where she skillfully made delicate electronic vacuum tubes, and also soldered electronic components onto circuit boards to make radios. Her son Mike recalls how she described meeting her future husband, Raymond (who was in the Army), on VJ Day while she and her sister Connie were waiting for a trolly in Newark New Jersey. They kept up a correspondence, but one time, when Ray waited a little too long to reply to one of her letters, she impatiently wrote him asking, “What’s the matter, is your hand broken?”
They were engaged in January 1946 and then married at the Andrews Field base chapel (Maryland) on June 26, 1948. Raymond promised Agatha a life of adventure, and that all started when they were stationed in Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha Nebraska as part of the newly forming Strategic Air Command, which, in the coming decades, would maintain our nuclear-armed bombers, keeping the peace during the Cold War with Soviet Russia. They were next stationed at Lockbourne A. F. B. near Columbus, Ohio. Three more deployments would follow: Elmendorf near Anchorage, Alaska; Wurtsmith near Oscoda, Michigan; and finally back to Lockbourne. During this demanding time, Ray and Agatha raised five children. Both had a strong Catholic Faith and taught this love they had for God to their children. Agatha was particularly devoted to the Sacred Heart, Our Blessed Mother, and Saint Jude. Her daughter Ann recalls at age 4 her mother singing the children’s song “Jesus Loves Me,” and how she agreed thinking, “Yes, I love Jesus, too.” Cynthia’s favorite story was Agatha’s vivid account (at the age of 15 months!) of seeing a huge image of Christ’s face in a beautiful blue summer sky while her mother held her; and how, at the time of her father’s death in 1948, going to the base chapel at Andrews Field to pray for the repose of his soul, she was astonished to see that very same depiction of Jesus on the cover of that year’s parish calendar! Agatha framed that calendar portrait, which still remains in the family. Around age 8 or 9 while in Alaska, her daughter Teresa fondly recalls her mother patiently teaching her to draw (and insisting upon re-drawing to get it right), as well as how to make paper dolls and sew doll clothes. Agatha enjoyed creating and painting lovely pottery and statues; and even created a few canvas paintings. She had an appreciation for fine art and the great orderliness and mysteries of God’s Universe. Most of all, she was happiest when tending her magnificently beautiful flower gardens, and often recalled the joy of winning two of the Air Force’s Home Beautiful awards.
Agatha was preceded in death by her late husband Raymond, and is survived by: her sister Audrey Melnic and sister-in-law Judy Satola; and her children: Teresa (David) Coey, Jan Satola, Cynthia (Rick) Lucci, Ann (Don) Day, Michael (Barbie) Satola; grandchildren: Matthew, Jared, Jessica, Emily, Gabrielle, Joseph, and Beth (Elizabeth); and great grandchildren: Leonardo, Noah, Andrea, and Natalia.
Requiem Mass: May 19 at 10:00 AM, Saint Anthony of Padua Chapel (2586 Billingsley Rd, Columbus, OH 43235). Visitation: May 21 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM Dwayne Spense Funeral Home (650 W. Waterloo St., Canal Winchester, OH 43110); followed by Noon entombment at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery (6440 High St.). In lieu of flowers, Agatha requested Masses said for the repose of her soul be sent to Fr. Thielen, P. O. Box 108, Mechanicsburg OH 43044 (suggested donation: $25).