Nina L. McCracken, 83, of Woodland died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 at the Penn Highlands DuBois.
She was born Oct. 25, 1932 in Clearfield, a daughter of the late Edgar A. Moore Sr. and Margaret (Barry) Moore.
She was married to Ward H. McCracken; she was the love of his life. From her childhood forward, she was always devout in her Catholic faith.
She and her husband had 11 children, and she was a wonderful, loving mother who raised all of her children with patience and good humor.
She managed their household and kept everything there running as smoothly as possible with so many children.
For a time before she was married, she worked as a cashier at G.C. Murphy Company, and throughout her life, she was also very active in volunteer work.
She had volunteered for the Bloodmobile, Meals on Wheels and the Care and Concern Committee of St. Francis Parish. She was also on the Strawberry Festival and playground committees for the Bigler Civic Center.
She was a charter member of the Bigler-Jackson-Woodland Ladies Auxiliary. She also worked for the Easter Seal Society in charge of buying gifts for kids at Christmas.
After raising her children, she also provided care for several elderly residents in the Clearfield area. Last but not least, she volunteered at her children’s school lunch programs and led many Cub Scout and Girl Scout Troops.
She is survived by her husband, Ward H. McCracken, to whom she was wed Jan. 31, 1950 in St. Francis Church, Clearfield.
She is survived by 11 children, Ward H. McCracken Jr. and his wife, Tina of Erie, David ‘Mike’ McCracken and his wife, Verlee of Woodland, Carolyn Schenk and her husband, John, Nina ‘Wezie’ Adams and her husband, Ted, Eric McCracken and his wife, Beth and Joan Castillo, all of Clearfield, Edward McCracken and his wife, Carolyn of Jackson, Calif., Chris McCracken and his wife, Tracey of Curwensville, Amy Larson and her husband, Tom of Philipsburg and Kevin McCracken of Wellsboro.
She is also survived by 29 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; a sister, Barb Ruffner of Buffalo, NY and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Janet L. Hansard; two infant sons; her sisters, Maxine Broad, Phyllis Schnarrs, Rosalie Brown and Margaret Moore; and her brothers, Bob, Danny, Jerome, Barry and Edgar ‘Bud’ Moore Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield, with Father John L. Miller as celebrant. Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery, Clearfield.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Janet McCracken Hansard Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1442, Clearfield or to the St. Francis Educational Endowment Fund, 212 S. Front St., Clearfield.
To sign the online guestbook, go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.
