Joseph W.Ciavarra of Main St.; Fayette City;died suddenly Sunday; Dec.5;1982 at his home. He was 91. Mr.Ciavarra was born Jan.2;1888; In Palcna; Italy; a son
of the late Eliseo and Adelina
Ciavarra.
He was one of 12 children;
nine of whom died early In
life during a diptheria
epidemic. While a young boy;
he studied for the priesthood;
but gave it up because he felt
he might not be able to fulfill
some of the commitments Involved.
Instead Mr. Ciavarra
entered Into an apprenticeship as a tailor. He came
to the United States In 1911
and resided with relatives in
Canonsburg where he worked
for a short period of time in a
steel mill.
He then came to Monessen
where he operated a one
room tailor shop. Mr.
Ciavarra was then approached by Andrew Stoffel; a merchant tailor in Fayette City;who asked him to go into business with him;which Mr. Ciavarra did. In 1917;he opened his own shop in Fayette City;employing five men. Upon being drafted into the Army Air Squadron during World War I;he sold his shop to another tailor. When Mr.Ciavarra returned from the war;he worked in Charleroi for Dave Tosenburg as a tailor;designer and furrier. He then returned to Fayette City and opened his own shop again and remained in business there until he retired in 1980 at the age of 92. Mr.Ciavarra was a businessman for some 68 years;at least 60 of them in Fayette City. the family business in Fayette City is still being operated by his son;William L.Ciavarra. He was a member of the Sons of Italy Lodge 468;Charleroi;and the Brightwell-Daugherty American Legion Post 484 of Fayette City. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife;Edna Natola Ciavarra;on Dec.30;1973;and a son in 1922. Suriviors include one son;William L.Ciavarra of Fayette City;one daughter;Mrs.Wilmina Michaloski of Fayette City;and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received in the Howard W. McCrory Funeral Home;Fayette City;Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Services will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday;Dec.8;at 11 a.m.with the Rev.Gnatuk of Acme;Pa.;officiating. Burial will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Howard W. McCrory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.