James Laratta of 604 Graham St.;Belle Vernon;died Sunday;Aug.28;1983;at 9:10 a.m.in the Mon Valley Hospital. He was 87. Mr.Laratta was born Nov.17;1895;in Italy;a son of the late Joseph and Mary Desmond Laratta. He was a member of St.Sebastian Roman Catholic Church;Belle Vernon. A resident of Belle Vernon for the past 75 years;Mr.Laratta was president of the former Italian Beneficial Society on Market Street for many years. He was a member of the Belle Vernon American Legion and the Belle Vernon Musical Society. Mr.Laratta was retired from P&LE Railroad;where he had worked as a conductor for 47 years. Survivors include his widow;Edith Guerra Laratta;two daughters;Mrs.Marie Nelson of St.Alabans;W.Va.;and Mrs.John (Dolores) Yurkovich of Belle Vernon;one brother;Anthony Laratta of Belle Vernon;two sisters;Mrs.Victoria DeCarlo of Brownsville and Mrs.Jean Spatafore of Franklinsville;N.J.;and four grandchildren. Friends will be received Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Shelby D.Ferguson Funeral Home;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon. A prayer service will be held Wednesday;Aug.31;at 9 a.m. in the funeral home;followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St.Sebastian Church. Burial will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Shelby D.Ferguson;funeral director;is in charge of arrangements.