Edward A. D’Errico; 86; of Belle Vernon passed away peacefully in his home on Friday; December 14; 2007. A son of the late James D’Errico and Mary D’Errico Church; he was born in Monessen on December 31; 1920. Mr. D’Errico retired from the Monessen plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Company in 1985 after 35 years of service and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife; Mae Sturgis D’Errico; with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage on June 2; 2007; one son and daughter-in-law; Ed and Mary D’Errico of Cincinnati; OH; one daughter and son-in-law; Mary Ann and Jerry Staab of Apple Valley; Minnesota; five sisters; Marie Bradley of Belle Vernon; Lenora Potts of North Carolina; Dolores Jones of Florida; Rosella McShane of Belle Vernon and Carmella Reynolds of Columbus; OH and three grandchildren; Katie; Caitlin and Matthew. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by three brothers; James and Thomas D’Errico and Raymond Church and one sister; Jean D’Errico Germock. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Monday in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory; Inc.; www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon. A blessing service will be in the funeral home Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Ross A. Basile; 41; of West Newton went to be with the Lord on Monday; December 10; 2007 in UPMC Shadyside Hospital. A son of Ross and Anna Mae Conner Basile; who survive and reside in Belle Vernon; he was born in N. Charleroi on October 24; 1966. He was a member of the Christian Center Church of Belle Vernon and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the California University of Pennsylvania. Ross was the vice-president sales manager of National Financial Services Center for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh for 13 years until his illness. He loved cars and enjoyed doing projects around his home. In addition to his parents; survivors include his wife of 14 years; Lisa Marie Snyder Basile; three brothers and sisters-in-law; William & Dorothy Basile of Newell; Robert & Cindy Basile of Perryopolis and Jack and Rose Basile of Rostraver Twp.; his mother-in-law and father-in-law; Holly Kerns of York; PA and Charles Snyder Jr. of Spring Grove; PA and many nieces and nephews. 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. (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon; www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com. Additional visitation will be Saturday from 10 A.M. until 11 A.M.; the hour of services in the Christian Center Church; Ridge Road; Belle Vernon. Pastor John Derrico will officiate. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. If friends wish; memorial donations may be made to the University of Pittsburgh / Koch Center @ www.giveto.pitt.edu or 412-623-4700.

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Beatrice Mae Vales Jackson Summers; 88; of Rostraver Township (Pricedale); departed this life on Wednesday; Dec. 5; 2007; with her loving brother and sister at her beside following an extensive battle with cancer. She was born in Pricedale on April 28; 1919; the daughter of the late Dunmore Carlton Happy Vales and Lucretia Lula Harris Vales. She also was preceded in death by her first husband; Abraham Flip Jackson; and her second husband; Frank Summers; two daughters; Elizabeth Jackson Harris and Irma Jackson Potts; one granddaughter; Elizabeth Pudd Jackson; and one niece; Iris Vales Hightower Gorda. She is survived by one brother; Edward Vales; of Pricedale; one sister; Lenore Vales Shaw; of Gulfport; Miss.; one grandson; Monty (Sarah) Harris; of Poughkeepsie; N.Y.; one great-grandson; Daniel Harris; of Poughkeepsie; one son-in-law; Ernest Potts; of Arnold City (Washington Township); a special friend; Colleen Murphy; of Pricedale; a dear friend; Cheryl Hepple; and a host of nieces; nephews; cousins and other friends. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; and Monday; Dec. 10; from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Pleasant Green AME Church; Pricedale; where funeral services will be held with Pastor Millie Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.

Charles A. Novak; 82; of Elizabeth (Rostraver Township) died Wednesday; December 5; 2007 in The Greenery in Canonsburg. Born in Pittsburgh on December 31; 1924; he was the son of the late Mike and Mary (Hook) Novak.
Mr. Novak was retired from USX Irvin Works where he worked as a welder. He served in the US Army during World War II and was Catholic by faith.
He is survived by his wife; Gerda (Hamilton) Novak; 2 sons; Charles Novak of VA and Mike Novak of OH; 2 daughters; Pamela Andrews of FL and Debbie Bailey of OH;
7 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren
Friends will be received on Friday from 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 Blessing Service will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. Ronald L. Simboli; Pastor of the Church of St. Anne; presiding. Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery.

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