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Natalie Martha Loya, a Byzantine Catholic laywoman dedicated to promoting the message of Our Lady of Fatima throughout the United States, died Jan. 15; she was 92.
Known to family and friends as Martha, she was born March 21, 1926, in Clymer, Pennsylvania, to Father John and Elizabeth Loya. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, a field then dominated by men, from Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1948.
She moved to Cleveland to be an analytical chemist at Republic Steel Corporation for three years, before moving onto Ferro Corporation. She quit her job the next year to follow her family to St. Mary Parish in Whiting, Indiana, where her father had been assigned, to help care for her ailing mother.
After her mother died, Martha cared for her father and assisted him in his ministry full time. They moved to St. Nicholas Parish in Yonkers, New York, in 1953, and went on pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in 1954.
Unbeknown to her, the slide presentation she shared with parishioners upon her return launched her into a 35-year apostolate of promoting the message of Our Lady of Fatima, supported only by free will donations. She drove long distances and spoke at churches — Eastern and Roman Catholic — nursing homes, seminaries, prisons and schools, reaching a total 250,000 students. She retired in 1990 due to poor health and turned to prayer ministry. She prayed for priests and vocations in particular.
Martha moved to Parma, Ohio, in 2003, to be close to family. She was a quiet and unassuming parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Many of her fellow parishioners were unaware of her former missionary life. Those who knew her were inspired by her witness of unwavering trust in God and sustained by her faithful friendship.
Martha was predeceased by her sisters, Sister Ivanna of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, and Marie Budd (William), and her brothers, Joseph (Martha) and Nicholas, as well as by her niece Maria E. Loya and nephews Nicholas J. Loya and Leonard Budd. She is survived by her sister-in-law Martha, nephews Father Thomas J. Loya, pastor of Annunciation Parish, Deacon Gregory Loya (Kate), Timothy Loya (Barbara), Joseph Budd, Jim Budd (Clare) and Daniel Budd (Diane), as well as 14 grand nieces and nephews.
Father Thomas celebrated the Parastas Jan. 20; three priests and Deacon Loya concelebrated. Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma celebrated the Office of Christian Burial at the cathedral Jan. 21. Five priests and Deacon Loya concelebrated.
Father Thomas described his aunt as “one of Our Lady’s most devoted souls.”
“To honor her is to turn our gaze toward that to which she had dedicated her life and to which she desired all to be drawn: Our Lord Jesus Christ through his Mother’s Immaculate Heart,” he said at the cathedral Jan. 21.
Reflecting on her character, he said she “remained steadfast, never a word of criticism or pessimism. She just kept believing, praying and having hope.
“Since her death, it has become even more evident to our family that Natalie Martha Loya lived entirely for others,” he said.
Interment followed at Mount St. Macrina Cemetery in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
May God grant his handmaiden Natalie Martha eternal memory and blessed repose.
As published in Horizons, Feb. 10, 2019.
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