Vernice Lunt Howarth;71;of 327 Parente Blvd.;Monessen;died Monday;March 7;1994;in the Mon Valley Hospital following a lingering illness. She was born in Commodore on Dec.26;1922;a daughter of the late Earl and Samantha Lunt Sr. Mrs.Howarth was a member of the Orchard Christian Fellowship Church of Monessen. She was past president and past treasurer of the Hungarian Club Ladies Auxiliary of Monessen. She is survived by her husband;John J.Howarth Sr.;a daughter;Karen L.Ditta of Canonsburg;two sons;John J.Howarth Jr.and Harry C.Howarth;both of Monessen;four grandchildren;Pvt.Chris Ditta;Frank Ditta;Sherry Hohn and Cathy Howarth;six great-grandchildren;three sisters;Helen Jadvk of Monessen;Mrs.Michael (Vivian) Bachinski of Monessen and Loretta Mitchner of Coal Center;and two brothers;James Smith of Charleroi and Leslie Lunt of Smithton. In addition to her parents;she was preceded in death by three brothers;Earl Lunt Jr.;Rhuel Lunt and Donald Lunt;and three sisters;Anna Mae Baumgardner;Rowena Prentice and Cora Lunt. Friends will be received in the Rhome Funeral Home Inc.;1209 Grand Blvd.;Monessen;Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of the funeral home Thursday at 10 a.m.with the Rev.John Custer of the Orchard Christian Fellowship Church officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Rhome Funeral Home Inc.is in charge of the arrangements.