By
CARLOS ARMENTROUT
ROBERT COCCARI
WILLIAM R. DISENT
JACK E. DAKAS
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
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
PETER ANTHONY BITONTI JR.
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
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 ADELESUTHERLAND ROSSI
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.
