Jack Dakas; 88; formerly of Belle Vernon went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday; March 5; 2008 in the Rehabilitation and Nursing Center of Greater Pittsburgh at Greensburg. A son of the late John and Julia Captain Dakas; he was born in Duquesne on November 24; 1919. A member of the Marion Presbyterian Church; Jack had lived most of his adult life in Belle Vernon until moving to Greensburg one year ago. He was a U.S. Marine veteran of World War II; an avid and skilled euchre player and loved time spent at the beach with his family. His sense of humor and love of good times will never be forgotten. He retired in 1982 from the Allenport Plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Company. A loving and devoted husband; father and grandfather; ”Pap” is survived by his wife of 56 years; Elaine Wood Dakas; one daughter and son-in-law; Debbie and Tony Sicari of Penn Twp.; two sons; Jack Dakas of Uniontown and Dr. Jeffrey Dakas of Erie; six grandchildren; Erika Kimmel and husband Dave of the Netherlands; Dana Dakas of Uniontown; Brian Matthew Sicari; Chad Michael Sicari; both of Penn Twp.; Erin Dakas and Nora Dakas; both of Erie and one great-grandson; Jace Kimmel. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by two sisters; Eleanor Titler and Irene Zuro. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 P.M. Thursday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Friday in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory; Inc. www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Saturday at 12:30 P.M. Rev. Robert Prinkey; pastor of the Marion Presbyterian Church and Rev. William Lawson officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Eleanor L. Bartek; 77; formerly of Seattle; WA; passed into the presence of the Lord on March 3; 2008 at the Oaks Skilled Nursing Center at Bethany Village West in Mechanicsburg. Eleanor was born in Belle Vernon on January 23; 1931 to the late John and Maria (Mary) Klanduck Bartek. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by four sisters; Margaret Radich; Catherine Baron; Anne Tylka and Mary Buchanan. She is survived by many nieces; nephews and a couple generations of their children. She attended Robert Wesleyan College in the Rochester; NY area where she taught elementary education for three years. She then moved to the Seattle; WA area where she taught and loved her students for 37 years. In Seattle; she was a member of the United Evangelical Free Church and loved to support missions with her prayers and finances. During this lifetime; Eleanor traveled to many states and countries around the world with her close friends. She always had great stories about her adventures. Although besieged by many physical challenges; she loved life and people. She did much good for the Lord and her mission friends. Eleanor moved from Seattle to Mechanicsburg; PA in January 2003; living at Messiah Village; and then moving to Bethany Village Assisted Living and her cozy apartment there. In the early morning hours of Monday; March 3; 2008; she passed into the presence of her Lord; and finally met her Jesus face to face! Friends will be received Friday from 7 to 9 P.M. in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory; Inc.; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon; www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Saturday at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Eugene Spears officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. If friends wish; memorial contributions may be made to the Char-Belle Free Methodist Church; corner of Speer and Arch Streets; Belle Vernon; PA 15012

Private funeral services were held for Peter Anthony Bitonti Jr.; 47; of Belle Vernon; who died unexpectedly on Saturday; March 1; 2008; in his home. He was born October 7; 1960; in North Charleroi; the son of Devina DeRose Bitonti; who survives and resides in Belle Vernon; and the late Peter A. Bitonti Sr.; who passed away May 13; 1976. Pete was a 1978 graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School and a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon and the Tri-County Masonic Temple Association Lodge No. 643 in Donora. He was employed by Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel; Allenport plant; and was a councilman for the Borough of Belle Vernon for the past eight years. One of Pete’s favorite pastimes was enjoying a ride on his Harley. He lived his life one day at a time. No matter where you are; you will find Pete in a memory. Anyone who knew him will surely say we have his memories that will remain in the deepest of our hearts . The greatest tribute to Pete is to share the remembered joys that are pressed between the pages in his book of life. He will be sadly missed. In addition to his mother; he is survived by his brother; David J. Bitonti and wife; Kimberly; of Perryopolis; his sister; Lisa J. Jesko; of Belle Vernon; three nieces and one nephew; Christina and Giovanna Bitonti and Kenny and Nina Jesko; his girlfriend; Erin M. Lubich; and several aunts; uncles and cousins. In addition to his father; he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents; John and Josephine Bitonti; and his maternal grandparents; Octavio and Emilia DeRose. The family suggests memorial contributions in Pete’s memory to be made to: Loretta J. Budway Breast Care Fund; West Penn Hospital; 4818 Liberty Ave.; Pittsburgh; Pa. 15224; or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation; The Gulf Tower; 707 Grant St.; 37th Floor; Pittsburgh; Pa. 15219-1916. The FRYE FUNERAL HOME INC.; 427 West Main St.; Monongahela; was in charge of the arrangements.

Stanley Petrosky; 65; of Belle Vernon (Fairhope) died Friday; February 1; 2008 in his home. A son of the late John and Blanche Melanowski Petrosky; he was born in Fairhope on May 15; 1942. A member of the Belle Vernon American Legion; Post 659; Stanley had resided in Ohio for 30 years where he was employed by General Motors; Lordstown Assembly Plant and returned to Fairhope in 2001. A U.S. Army veteran for ten years; he was stationed in Germany and Vietnam and several places in the United States. He enjoyed skeet and trap shooting. Survivors include his wife of 46 years; Donna Baker Petrosky; one daughter and son-in-law; Lori and Mark Ludwig of Knoxville; TN; three sons and two daughters-in-law; John and Stephanie Petrosky of Belle Vernon (Lynnwood); Bryan and Michele Petrosky of Belle Vernon and Rick Petrosky of Knoxville; TN; one sister; Kathy Hutchinson of Fayette City; one brother and sister-in-law; Julius and Janet Petrosky of Fairhope; eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by one brother; John E. Petrosky in 1977. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory; Inc.; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon; www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com where funeral services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Monday with Rev. Larry Wade officiating. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The members of the American Legion will meet in the funeral home to hold services Sunday at 7:00 P.M.

Lois Adele (Sutherland) Rossi; of Rostraver Township was called home to be with the Lord on Monday; March 3; 2008. She was a member of the Assembly of the Donora Gospel Hall. In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother; she was a natural musician and singer. She would spend hours singing beautiful harmonies and playing several instruments with her family and friends. She was the daughter of the late Alexander Roland and Sylvia Ellen Gaskill Sutherland both of Speers and is survived by her husband Ronald Rossi; one son and daughter-in-law Randy and Lynne Rossi of Greensburg; one granddaughter Alexandra; two brothers and one sister-in-law; Jack Sutherland and Jay and Martha Sutherland; all of Speers Hill; one sister and brother-in-law; Joyce and Ron Danko of Monessen; as well as many loving nieces; nephews; grand-nieces and grand-nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by a son in infancy; Mark Alan Rossi; one brother and one sister-in-law George and Marion Sutherland and a sister Doris “Dee Dee” Sutherland; all of Speers Hill and a nephew; Kenneth Danko of Monessen. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Wednesday in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory; Inc.; www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCremetory.com; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Funeral Services will be in the funeral home on Thursday; March 6th at 10 A.M. with Kenneth McCullough officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Marie Mazzei; 92; of Belle Vernon died Monday; March 3; 2008 in Mon Valley Hospital. A daughter of the late Daniel and Mary Petroff; she was born in Ellsworth on November 18; 1915. Marie was a lifelong resident of Belle Vernon. Survivors include her husband; Angelo Mazzei; one son and daughter-in-law; William and Jane Mazzei of Spring Hill; FL and two granddaughters; Catherine Ann Mazzei of Sacramento; CA and Karen Carnell and husband Michael of Jacksonville; NC. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by one son; Robert Mazzei on February 1; 2002; two brothers; Peter and Michael Petroff and one sister; Pearl. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Wednesday in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory; Inc. (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon; www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com. A Blessing service will be in the funeral home Thursday at 12:00 P.M. with Rev. Lawrence Manchas officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Gilbert E. Cole; 88; of Dallas; Texas; died of heart failure on Wednesday; Feb. 27; 2008; in Dallas Medical City. Mr. Cole was born Sept. 17; 1919; in Port Vue to the late Rev. George O. and Anna Julian Cole and lived in the Pittsburgh area until 2004; when he moved to Dallas. Mr. Cole’s career in the food industry spanned almost 70 years. He began as a food store clerk and progressed to manager and buyer for Thorofare supermarkets of Pittsburgh. He later became self-employed; owning and operating several Foodland supermarkets. From the early 1980s until retirement; he owned and operated the Mister Donut Shop and Gentle Touch Laundromat; Cranberry. Mr. Cole was a member of First Christian Church; a Free & Accepted Mason and a World War II veteran. He also was preceded in death by his wife; Elsie Ida Cole; who died May 12; 2004; a daughter; Beverly; and nine siblings. He is survived by daughters Marlene; of Indianapolis; Corinne; of Dallas; and Kimberly and husband Ronald; of Wemley; Canada; grandchildren Jadon; Cheryl and Amy; a great-grandson; and sisters Alice Crookham; of California; Mildred Agee; of Missouri; and Grace Baughman and Judy Hannon; of Ohio. Friends and family will be received from 2 until a 4 p.m. service Wednesday GLENN-KILDOO FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SVCS. INC.; 130 Wisconsin Ave.; Cranberry; with the Rev. Fred Agee officiating. Interment at 10 a.m. Thursday in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver. On-line condolences and directions at www.glennkildoofuneralhome.com.

Ardith Lee Weightman; 74; loving wife; mother; sister; grandmother; great-grandmother; aunt and friend; of Belle Vernon; passed away Friday; March 21; 2014; at home with her loving family by her side. A strong woman of great faith; when the doctors gave Ardith six months to live; she dismissed their predictions – remembering whose decision it really was – God’s. She was determined to live each moment to its fullest potential; and God rewarded us all with a year-and-a-half. Ardith lived a happy; faith-filled life; moving from Scottdale to Belle Vernon after marrying her beloved husband; William Weightman Sr. in 1957; who preceded her in death in 1986. After her husband’s passing; she enrolled in Douglas School of Business; where she proudly earned her degree in 1988. Ardith and William had seven children together; Rhonda (1959); Christine (1959); Shawn (1963 to 2009); Roxanne Smalley and husband; Randy; Tracy Baker; Heidi Donnelly and William Jr. and wife; Heather. She is survived by nine grandchildren; Christopher Ceccarelli; Jennifer Popelas; Warren Gibson; Brian Baker; Amber Brassart; Alicia (her special little Goosie) and Pebbles Donnelly and Raelyn and Brenton Weightman. She was also the proud great-grandmother of nine. In addition to her husband; infant daughters and son; Ardith was predeceased by her parents; Blanche and Robert Keslar; brother; Rodney Butch Keslar; and sister; Donna Greenawalt. Also surviving are two sisters; Gay Hixson and Gwen Klepsky; and one brother; Larry Keslar. Ardith was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon; where she served as a Bible school teacher and deacon and regularly attended Bible study. She often credited her ability to put up such a courageous battle with the prayers given by the church and her wonderful minister; Rev. Sue Currie; who faithfully visited every day. Her greatest joy was her family to whom she unselfishly gave her love and time. She asked for nothing in return. She was a role model; a friend and one serious mamma if you broke a rule! Her passion and dedication touched her family’s lives; she will be greatly missed. Her family thanks all who kept her in their prayers and showed their love and concern in so many ways. As a deacon and church member; Ardith was tireless in her outreach to others – believing in the power of a timely sent Hallmark card. To honor her service to others; please consider donating to the First Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon – Deacons Fund; 501 Fayette Ave.; Belle Vernon; PA 15012. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC.; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; 724-929-5300;http://www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com. Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday in the First Presbyterian Church; with the Rev. Suzanne Currie officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The officers and members of the First Presbyterian Church will meet in the funeral home at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to hold services.