Maria Poplacean,

Maria Poplacean, age 96, of Canton, Ohio, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2021. She attended McGregor Elementary School and was a proud member of Lincoln High School's first graduating class in 1943. Maria had a forty-year career at the Canton Drop Forge, where she was executive secretary to the president and acquired deep knowledge of the forging industry. Maria was blessed with a sharp mind, phenomenal memory, and an outgoing, thoughtful spirit. A lifelong member of St. George Romanian Byzantine Catholic Cathedral, Maria sang in the choir, served on the parish council and the church building committee, and was president of Sf. Maria Ladies Auxiliary. She was an active member of the Association of Romanian Catholic Americans (ARCA) and President of the Romanian Women's Club. Maria treasured her Romanian heritage and enjoyed Romanian-American celebrations, folk dancing, and trips to Romania. Maria was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ana (Hategan) Poplacean, sister Aurelia Unger, brother-in-law Victor Unger, and good friend Charles Gjertsen. She is survived by her nieces Ann, Monica, Victoria, Bernadette and Constance Unger, Bernadette's husband, James Rubenstein, many close friends, and relatives in Romania and Canada. A private funeral service was held May 1st at the church, with Father Ovidiu Marginean officiating. Maria was laid to rest at Forest Hills Cemetery. The family thanks the Canton Regency staff, Visiting Angels, and Bethany Nursing Home for their compassionate attention and care. Memorial contributions may be made to St. George Romanian Byzantine Catholic Cathedral or the church's Sf. Maria Ladies Auxiliary, 1123 44th Street N.E. Canton, Ohio 44714, or a charity of your choice.