Laura A. Kershaw; 57; went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday morning; Dec. 1; 2007; at her home in Monongahela. Born in Union; S.C.; on June 4; 1950; she was the daughter of Albert and Lola Kershaw; who survive. Laura graduated from Monongahela High School and was employed by Monongahela Valley Hospital as a certified nurse’s assistant. She was previously employed by Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania and Corning Ware Company in Charleroi. Laura was an active and dedicated member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Donora since childhood; currently under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Dennis Garner. She served as church clerk; was a member of the trustee and usher boards; sang in various choirs and served as chairperson on various committees. In addition to her parents; she leaves to cherish her memory two sons; Omar and Damon Kershaw and fiancee; Amber Loulis; all of Monongahela; three sisters; Rasheedah Marie Bilal; of Monongahela; Jean (Lawrence) Phillips; of Inglewood; Calif.; and Loretta Carter; of Pittsburgh; one grandson; Crene Kershaw; two uncles and a host of nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her brother; Timothy Kershaw; in 2000. Laura was very well known and loved throughout the community and will be deeply missed. Family and friends will be received Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. in St. Paul Baptist Church; 41 McKean Ave.; Donora; where a Christian funeral service will be held Thursday; Dec. 6; at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Dennis Garner officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the BEVERLY C. DRAPER FUNERAL HOME; 608 Sixth St.; Monessen (724-684-6242).

Funeral services were held this morning for Katherine Kontaxes Turick Besedick; 76; of Belle Vernon; who died Friday; Nov. 30; 2007; in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. Born July 30; 1931; in Monessen; she was the daughter of the late Peter S. and Mary Flora Kontaxes. A lifelong resident of Belle Vernon; Mrs. Besedick was a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Monessen; and she was a homemaker. She is survived by one brother and sister-in-law; Steve and Mary Kontaxes; of Perryopolis; three sisters and one brother-in-law; Bessie Capiotis; of Florida; Josephine Nabozny; of Charleroi; and Irene and Steve Fafalios; of Carroll Township; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; Emil Besedick; three sons; Lt. Peter S. Turick; US Navy; Adam Turick and William Thomas Pappas; her second husband; George Turick; and one brother; Nicholas Kontaxes. Relatives and friends gathered at 10 a.m. in St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church; Monessen; with the Rev. Demetrios Gardikes; pastor; officiating. Interment followed in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; family owned and operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-6183). Condolences accepted for the family at the funeral home Web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com

Ann Lario; 92; of Aliquippa; formerly of Donora; passed away Wednesday; Nov. 28; 2007; in Beaver Eldercare; Aliquippa. Mrs. Lario was born in Monessen on May 15; 1915; the daughter of the late Mike and Fannie Clemenda Poke. She was a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Donora and its Altar Society. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Andrew M. Lario; in 1944. Survivors include her son; Andrew M. Lario Jr.; of New York; a daughter; Florence Lario Petrovich; of Aliquippa; five grandchildren; Lewis; Jon Mark and Lisa Petrovich; and Veronica Lario Jeffers and Max Lario; two great-grandchildren; Erica and Charles Standfast; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the PAUL MACIK FUNERAL HOME; 546 Thompson Ave.; Donora (724-379-7000); where a prayer service will be held Sunday; Dec. 2; at 9:30 a.m.; followed by a Burial Service at 10 a.m. in St. Nicholas Orthodox Church; Donora; with the Very Rev. Fr. Igor R. Soroka officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A Parastas service will be held at the funeral home on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

JAY G.STARK;78; OF NORTH BELLE VERNON;DIED TUESDAY;NOV.27;2007 IN JEFFERSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER;JEFFERSON BOROUGH. BORN APRIL 12;1929;IN MONESSEN;HE WAS A SON OF THE LATE GEORGE AND ANNA BECKER STARK. A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF NORTH BELLE VERNON;MR.STARK WAS A MEMBER OF ST.SEBASTIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BELLE VERNON;WAS A RETIRED MANAGER FOR CEMETERY MANAGEMENT SERVICE EAST;SERVED IN THE US.NAVY AND WAS A MEMBER OF BELLE VERNON AMERICAN LEGION POST 659. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE;LOUISE MAGUIRE STARK;TO WHOM HE WAS MARRIED 53 YEARS;THREE SONS AND ONE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW;JAY G.STARK JR. OF CALIFORNIA;THOMAS AND ANNA STARK;OF ARIZONIA;AND JOHN STARK;OF BELLE VERNON;TWO DAUGHTERS AND ONE SON-IN-LAW;LOUISE AND KEN URBAN OF BELLE VERNON;AND ALICE MARIE STARK;OF SLIPPERY ROCK;ONE BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW;GEORGE AND MARLENE STARK;OF FLORIDA;SIX GRANDCHILDREN;ELIZABETH DEXHEIMER;ALEXANDER STARK;JULIE STARK;CHRISTOPHER STARK;NICHOLAS URBAN AND LAURA URBAN. HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY THREE BROTHERS;DONALD;EDWARD AND WILLIAM STARK;AND TWO SISTERS;ELEANOR NAHI AND JEAN MARSHALL. VISITATION WILL BE HELD THURSDAY FROM 7 TO 9 P.M. AND FRIDAY FROM 2 TO 4 AND 7 TO 9 P.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 SATURDAY;DEC.1 AT 9 A.M. IN THE FUNERAL HOME;FOLLOWED BY A FUNERAL MASS AT 9:30 A.M. IN ST.SEBASTIAN R.C.CHURCH WITH THE REV.LAWRENCE L.MANCHAS V.F.;PASTOR;AS CELEBRANT. INTERMENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN BELLE VERNON CEMETERY. ON FRIDAY IN THE FUNERAL HOME;MEMBERS OF ST.SEBASTIAN PARISH WILL PRAY THE ROSARY FOR THE DEPARTED SOUL OF JAY STARK AT 3 P.M. AND BELLE VERNON AMERICAN LEGION WILL CONDUCT SERVICES AT 7 P.M.. Jay G. Stark; 78; of North Belle Vernon; who died Tuesday; Nov. 27; 2007; in Jefferson Regional Medical Center; was preceded in death by three step- brothers; Donald; Edward and William Gregor. Visitation will be held Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-6183). A prayer service will be held Saturday; Dec. 1; at 9 a.m. in the funeral home; followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church; Belle Vernon; with the Rev. Lawrence L. Manchas V.F.; pastor; as celebrant. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Condolences accepted for the family at www.parzynskifuneralhome.com

Donald Droby Novak; 68; of Monessen; passed away suddenly on Wednesday; Nov. 28; 2007; in the emergency room at Monongahela Valley Hospital. He was born Dec. 15; 1938; in McKeesport; a son of the late Michael and Mary Novak. He graduated from Donora High School with the Class of 1957. Mr. Novak spent his adult life in Monessen; having worked at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel; and retiring from Koppers Industries Inc.; having worked in the steam plant. His lifelong passion was to baseball and volunteering as a youth coach. His devotion to the children he coached over the past 50 years earned him a spot on the Wall of Fame at the PONY Baseball/Softball International Headquarters in Washington; Pa. Mr. Novak was a member of numerous social and fraternal organizations throughout the Mon Valley. He is survived by his wife; Violet Wagner Novak; one son; Donald (Gina) Novak; and one daughter; Judy (Dennis) Fowler; all of Donora; three grandchildren; Jennifer (Chris) Geary; of North Carolina; Dennis (Christina) Fowler; of Monessen; and Donnie Novak Jr.; of Donora; one great-grandson; Aiden Fowler; of Monessen; and one sister; Geraldine Novicki; of Pittsburgh. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by one brother; Michael; and one sister; Doliris Seiple. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the STEPHEN D. YONEY JR. FUNERAL HOME; 100 Schoonmaker Ave.; Monessen. Services will be held Saturday; Dec. 1; at 10 a.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Tom Harding officiating. Burial will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers; memorial contributions will be accepted at the funeral home.

Elvira Diane Romito Holbrook; 83; of Belle Vernon (Washington Twp.); died Wednesday; November 28; 2007 at 12:35 am at Victoria House; Monessen. Born April 9; 1924 in Brownsville; she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Jennie Ferreri Romito. A resident of Washington Twp. for the past 55 years; Mrs. Holbrook was a member of St. Sebastian R.C. Church; Belle Vernon and was a homemaker. She is survived by;Son & Daughter in Law; Lewis & Diana Holbrook of Monongahela; Daughter; Dian Holbrook of Washington Twp.Brother; Alsie Romito of Chatanooga; Tenn2 Sisters; Minerva Albert of Newell and Jackie Lioon of Mt. Lebanon2 Grandchildren; Luke and Abby Holbrook She is preceded in death by her husband George Holbrook in December of 1997; a son George Holbrook Jr. in 1975; a brother Virgil ‘Andy’ Romito and two sisters Vita Cavalier and Ida Cavalier Visitation will be held Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Leonard J. Parzynski Funeral Home; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon 724-929-6183. Prayer Service will be held Friday at 9:30 am in the funeral home followed by funeral mass at 10:00 am at St. Sebastian R.C. Church with the Rev. Charles P. Esposito Parochial Vicar as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Services will be held:Members of St. Sebastian parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Elvira Holbrook Thursday at 3 PM in the funeral home.

Donald G. Williams; 73; of Rostraver Township; died Monday; November 26; 2007 in Mon Valley Hospital; Inc. after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Pricedale on October 21; 1934; he was the son of the late William H. and Jessie (Anderson) Williams.
Don retired in 1993 from the Rostraver and Belle Vernon Area School Districts after teaching Social Studies for 34 years. During his teaching career; he coached football for 28 years; was Equipment Manager and Trainer; and also coached Basketball and Volleyball. He was a 1953 graduate of Rostraver High School and worked on the Class Reunion committee; he was a graduate of California University of PA in 1958 and served in the U. S. Army in 1958. A member of the First Christian Church of Fayette City; he served as Elder and was Chairman of the Church board for many years. In 2001; Don was inducted into the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame. Don was also a former member of the Pitt Golden Panthers and a Board member of the Mon Valley Chapter for many years; in 1986; he and his wife received the Golden Panther of the Year Award. Don played and coached Softball in the Rostraver-Belle Vernon SloPitch League for many years. He was an EMT and driver for Rostraver Emergency Medical Services (R.E.M.S. – now Rostraver/West Newton Emergency Service) from 1976 to 1981; in addition; he taught CPR and Advanced First Aid.
He is survived by his wife; Marilyn (Milsom) Williams; whom he married July 31; 1958 (they celebrated their 49th Wedding Anniversary this year); brother; Kenneth Williams & wife Faye of Fairless Hills; 2 nephews; Kevan Williams and wife Sue of Warminster and Dana Williams and wife Melisa of Fairless Hills; 2 nieces; Colleen Bane Buchanan & husband Ken and Patricia Bane Bish and husband Tim; all of North Charleroi;great nieces and nephews; Heather Williams Davis; Katie Buchanan Whalen & husband David; Carl & Ken Buchanan; Shandra; Shaunden & Shanae Bish and several great-great nieces & nephews.Friends will be received on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the James C. Stump Funeral Home; Inc.; 580 Circle Drive; Belle Vernon/Rostraver Township (724-929-7934) www.jamesstumpfuneralhome.com ; where a Funeral Service will be held on Thursday; November 29 at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Wayne R. Boring; Pastor of the First Christian Church of Fayette City; officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver Township.The family suggests memorial contributions to either Rostraver/West Newton Emergency Medical Services; the Rostraver Public Library; or to the charity of one’s choice.