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

Mary Sholtis; 90; of Belle Vernon (Lynnwood) died Thursday; February 7; 2008 in Mercy Jeannette Hospital. A daughter of the late John and Susan Shafer Buchton; she was born in Fairhope on December 3; 1917. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Evangelical Church of Charleroi; the Junior Ladies Aide; the Monessen Senior Center; the Belle Vernon Golden Agers and the former Sokol Lodge of Monessen. Formerly of Monessen; Mary had resided in Lynnwood since 1955 and had been employed as a cook at the former Trocadero Moror Lodge; Rax Restaurant and Burger Chef; all in Belle Vernon. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law; Ronald and Patricia Sholtis of Belle Vernon; three daughters and sons-in-law; Carol and Al Gervin of Richmond; VA; Marilyn and Glenn Guseman of Jefferson Twp. and Susan and Charles Buza of Belle Vernon; one brother and sister-in-law; John and Pauline Buchton Jr. of Fairhope; eight grandchildren; Ronald Sholtis; Jr and wife Laura; Debra George and husband Richard; Tara Gervin; Christian Gervin; Yvonne Clark and husband Jerry; Glenda Guseman; Joseph Buza and wife Rachael and Christopher Buza; eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by one sister; Susan Strychalski. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Sunday 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 Monday at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Wayne Boring; pastor of the Fayette City Christian Church officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Charles W. Lovell Jr.; 72; of Finleyville; passed away Sunday; February 3; 2008. He was a lifelong member of Jefferson United Presbyterian Church and retired from Norfolk Southern Railroad. He was the beloved husband of the late Myra Lou Curry Lovell; father of Bill Lovell; Lou Ann (Richard) Scalise; David G. (Judy) Lovell and Thomas (Andrea) Lovell; grandfather of Richard; Ryan; Emily; Curry and Leah; and brother of Helen Jenkins. There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held Saturday; February 9; at 10 a.m. in Jefferson United Presbyterian Church. The family requests donations be made to: Jefferson United Presbyterian Church; 716 Gill Hall Road; Jefferson Hills; Pa. 15025. Arrangements are being handled by GRIFFITH MORTUARY INC.; Pittsburgh (412-655-4400).