Ergia Eva Liberatore Wright, 95, passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 16, 2021, after a lengthy illness.
She was born on March 15, 1925, in Morgantown, daughter of the Italian immigrants Luigi and Josephine Venetacci Forlini.
Ergia and her first husband, Mundy, owned and operated Mundy’s Neighborhood Bar on Madigan Avenue for over two decades. The recipe for her chili sauce, popular for serving on hot dogs at the First Ward establishment, is still in demand today.
She was then employed by the West Virginia University Athletics Department for 20 years, where she worked with many coaches and staff, including Coach Don Nehlen. She remained a WVU sports fan for life and continued to watch football until the end, enjoying a sip of beer while she watched the Super Bowl this year.
Ergia was a lifelong member of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church, formerly Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church. She enjoyed bowling, playing bridge and spending time with her family. She was a member of the Red Hat Club. She enjoyed shows and traveling, especially to Atlantic City, N.J., Las Vegas and Branson, Mo. Always fashionable, she loved shopping for clothes and jewelry. She was rarely seen without high heels, styled hair and painted fingernails.
She is survived by her daughters, Teresa Liberatore Davisson and Mary Ann Liberatore, both of Morgantown; grandchildren, Dr. Laura Davisson and husband James Boyce, of Morgantown, and Elizabeth “Bess” Odle and husband Mike, of Cincinnati; her sister, Geraldine Toth; and four great-grandchildren, Maria and Anton Boyce, and Andrew and Charles Odle. She also has surviving family in Italy and numerous surviving nieces, nephews and in-laws who live in Morgantown and other parts of the United States.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Mumfred “Mundy” Liberatore after 23 years of marriage. She was married briefly to John Wassick, now deceased. Her third husband Otto “Bus” Wright Jr., died after 18 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Guy and Rome Forlini, and her dear friends Joseph Zuccari and Frank Salucci.
The family would like to thank everyone who helped with Ergia’s care over the years. Most recently this includes Nina Corob, Barbara Palumbo, Brooke and Flo Tennant, Betty Shaw and Tammylinn Pauley. The care provided from the Amedysis Hospice staff is also very much appreciated. Hospice care allowed Ergia to have quality of life and dignity while staying mostly at home during the last years of her life.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to either Amedysis Hospice Care, 5006 Mid Atlantic Drive, Morgantown, or the WVU Athletic Endowment Fund’s Mumfred “Mundy” Liberatore and Ergia Liberatore Wright Athletic Scholarship, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 877 Morgantown.
Family and friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. The celebration of Mass of Christian burial will be held at Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 1 Guthrie Lane, Morgantown, at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, with Msgr. Anthony Cincinnati, STD, VE as celebrant. Interment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens. COVID-19 safety precautions will be followed, so please wear a mask if you attend the visitation.
Condolences:
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
