Joanna Kruppa; 70; of North Belle Vernon; died Sunday; February 10; 2008; in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. Born August 23; 1937; in North Charleroi; she was the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Kinder Kruppa. A resident of North Belle Vernon for the past 45 years; Ms. Kruppa was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon. Stricken with polio as a teenager; she spent three years at the D.T. Watson Home; where she was one of Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio pioneers . She returned home to graduate from Charleroi High School in 1955 and graduated from California State Teachers College in 1959. She was an elementary school teacher for 25 years. Her first job was at Fort Allen in Hempfield Township and then at Barren Run Elementary School in the Yough School District for most of her career. She is survived by a sister and brother-in-law; Mary Lou and Damon Turek; of Beaver Falls; a brother and sister-in-law; John R. and Kathy Kruppa; of Canonsburg; a sister-in-law; Sharon Kruppa; of Monongahela; nieces and nephews; John Edward and Barbara Kruppa; Dana and Norman Shepler; and Christopher Kruppa and Rachel; great-nieces and nephews; Ryan and Bethany Kruppa; Tessa Shepler; Tylor and Bailey Kruppa; and a special cousin; Mary Ann Gratty; of Economy. Visitation will be held Wednesday; February 13; from 10 to 11 a.m. at the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; family owned and operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-6183). A prayer service will be held in the funeral home at 11 a.m.; followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. in St. Sebastian R.C. Church with the Rev. Lawrence L. Manchas; pastor; as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Condolences accepted for the family at the funeral home Web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com