Joel Paul Mazzei; 53; of Rostraver Township; Belle Vernon; lost his courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday; Dec. 11; 2012; at Jefferson Regional Memorial Hospital. He was surrounded by his loving family. Joel was born on Jan. 15; 1959; and was the son of Mildred Knaus Mazzei and the late Frank William Mazzei. For the last 27 years; he has been employed by the Belle Vernon Area School District; 25 of these years as a valued member of the Rostraver Elementary School team and held in high esteem by colleagues; teachers; staff; students and parents. Joel was an active; beneficial member of the Russian Club in Belle Vernon. Joel enjoyed the outdoors and spent a lot of time on the family farm with brothers; cousins and friends. He was an avid bow hunter; fisherman and gardener and a lifelong sports enthusiast. Joel often spent weekends with his cousins; Pete and Carol Mazzei; rooting for his favorite teams; the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Family time was a priority for Joel. He was a cherished son; brother; uncle and great-uncle; and will be missed. Survivors include his mother; Mildred Knaus Mazzei; four siblings; Jim Mazzei and wife; Helga; of Middletown; Conn.; Sharon and husband; Dan Mochnaly; of Belle Vernon; Frank Mazzei and wife; Bonnie; of Hollidaysburg; Pa.; and Michele Mazzei and husband; Scott Brooks; of Silver Spring; Md.; 11 nieces and nephews; Christina and Eric Mazzei; Daniel; Patrick and Christian Mochnaly; Melissa; Joshua; Jacob and Angela Mazzei; and Benjamin and Ethan Brooks; and six great-nieces and nephews; Cassie; Dylan; Abigail; Adrianna; Camilla and Olivia. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATIONS; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; 724-929-6183. Prayer Service will be held at 9:15 a.m. Friday in the funeral home followed by funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Roger A. Statnick Pastor as celebrant. Entombment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian parish will pray the Rosary for the departed soul of Joel Mazzei Thursday at 3 p.m. Donations can be made in memory of Joel to the American Cancer Society at 1.800.227.2345 or http://www.cancer.org. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website; http://www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.