John J. Kurkosky; 92; of Belle Vernon; died Thursday; May 19; 2005; in Country Care Manor; Fayette City. He was born Sept. 25; 1912; in Pittsburgh; a son of the late Paul and Josephine Ruzzel Kurkosky. He was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Fayette City. Mr. Kurkosky was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II; having served with the 4th Marine Division; and he retired from the Allenport Plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. Surviving are his brother and sister; Edward Kurkosky; of Florida; and Helen Huzela; of Dunlevy; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife; Natalie Nettie Tomalski Kurkosky; and his second wife; Ann Zemencik Kurkosky; and two sisters; Mary Eland and Stella Altomari. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday; May 21 until 9:30 a.m.; when a blessing service will take place followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit R.C. Church with the Rev. Fr. Leonard McAlpin as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. For those unable to attend on-line condolences will be accepted at the funeral home website; www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com

LOIS IS SURVIVED BY HER SISTERS – LYDIA RUSSELL TENNANT OF WASHINGTON; PA.;MARY V.CROTHERS OF CANONSBURG;PA.;MARTHA E.REED [DECEASED]. BROTHER – GEORGE W.OSBORNE JR.[DECEASED]. LOIS WAS A 1950 GRADUATE OF TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON; PA. SHE THEN WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM NURSING SCHOOL. SHE WAS A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE AND WORKED IN WASHINGTON HOSPITAL FOR OVER 20 YEARS; RETIRING IN 1996. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE IN WASHINGTON AND WAS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE BENTLEYVILLE HOLINESS ASSOCIATION. SHE ENJOYED READING;CROCHETING;AND DOING JIGSAW PUZZLES. LOIS DIED UNEXPECTEDLY IN HER HOME. THE REV.DAVID PAUL OFFICIATED AT THE SERVICE IN THE FUNERAL HOME AND ALSO AT THE COMMITTAL SERVICE AT HER GRAVESIDE.

Mildred I. Waiton; 90; of North Belle Vernon; died Monday; May 16; 2005 in the home of her daughter; Shirley. A daughter of the late Alex and Edith White Braddock; she was born in Belle Vernon on April 2; 1915. A lifelong resident of Belle Vernon; she was a member of the Belle Vernon Church of the Nazarene. Survivors include three daughters and four sons-in-law; Marcella and Jack Dailey of Charlotte; N.C.; Shirley and Joe Vadella of North Belle Vernon; Deborah and David Richard of Parkland; Fla.; and Art Steiner of Belle Vernon; two brothers; Jack Braddock of Belle Vernon and Vaughn Braddock of California; Pa.; two sisters; Helen McCormick of Morgantown; W.Va.; and Mercy Green of Belle Vernon (Fairhope); 10 grandchildren; Pamela Poston; Greg Rainey; Jack Dailey; Jeffrey Vadella; Kim Gido; Patti Jo Kalvesmaki; Tammy Drinkwater; Drew Rainey and Ben and Ryan Richard; 14 great-grandchildren; William and Amanda Poston; Shun and Erik Vadella; Cameron Kalvesmaki; Georgina Steedle; Leann Bujdos; John A. Gido; Shaye; Sheldan and Sebastian Rainey; Brooke and Nicole Rainey and Rick Cramer; and six great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Benjamin Waiton; on Aug. 9; 1969; one daughter; Edith Ann Steiner; on Oct. 16; 1999; one great-granddaughter; Jacqueline Brounce; and three sisters; Emily Tylosky; Elsie Tintori and Mary Riskey. Friends will be received Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICE; (724-929-5300); a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Friday; May 20 at 11:30 a.m. with Pastor J.E. Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.
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Betty M. Barron; 69; of Belle Vernon (Rostraver Twp.) died Sunday; May 15; 2005 in West Penn Hospital; Pittsburgh. She was born August 10; 1935 in Monessen a daughter of the late John and Anna (Zeets) Barron. Prior to her retirement she was employed as a selector by Corning Glass Company in Charleroi. She is survived by daughter; Patti Southern and husband; Terry of Belle Vernon and their children; Brett A. Southern of Richmond; VA and Lynn A. Southern of Belle Vernon and daughter Karen Ann Lovich of Glenshaw; five brothers; John Barron and wife; Patricia of Belle Vernon; Edward Barron and wife; Joan of Belle Vernon; Robert Barron and wife; Patricia of Elizabeth; Jerry Barron and wife; Rosemarie of Belle Vernon and Ron Barron and wife; Barbara of Monessen; four nephews; two nieces; six great nephews and two great nieces. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by three sisters; Ann Barron Badzik; Kathryn Elaine Kachursky and Patti Lynn Barron. Visitation and interment were private. J. William McCauley; Jr. Funeral Home; Inc. West Newton; in charge of arrangements.

Margaret V. Cookie Couser; 61; of Webster; died Thursday; May 12; 2005 in her home. Born in North Charleroi on Jan. 28; 1944; she was the daughter of the late William and Alba Bergamasco Fedor of Monessen. A homemaker; Cookie was a member of Webster United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school at the church. She was a life member of the Webster Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary for many years. Cookie also was a Book Club member; a volunteer for the Light of Life Mission in Pittsburgh; and a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader. In addition; she was a Penn State Home Economics volunteer and came in second place in two different categories in the Westmoreland County Community College cook-off. In addition to her love of cooking; she was an avid gardener. She is survived by her husband of 45 years; Charles Barry Couser; two sons and a daughter-in-law; Charlie and Renee Couser of Rostraver Township and David W. Couser of Belle Vernon; two daughters and a son-in-law; Marsha and Paul Matis of Bentleyville and Patricia Miller of Pittsburgh; a sister and brother-in-law; Martha and Timothy Veschio of Tampa; Fla.; eight grandchildren; Jessica and Michael Couser; Brandon; Christina and Tori Miller; Megan Weightman; Rachael and Gregg Mast and their father; Gregg Mast. Friends will be received Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Dr.; Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township (724-929-7934). A Memorial Service will be held Thursday; May 19 at 10 a.m. in Webster United Methodist Church with the Rev. James Myers; pastor; officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver Township. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to: Rostraver Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1; Webster; Pa. 15087.

Rosemary Mazur; 52; of Vanderbilt; passed away Wednesday; May 11; 2005 in Mon Valley Hospital. She was born Nov. 26; 1952 in Connellsville; the daughter of the late Pete and Anna Marie Krukowsky Hela. Mrs. Mazur was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Perryopolis. She is survived by her husband; Kenneth D. Mazur; two sisters; Mrs. George (Joanne) Campbell of Brownstown; Mich.; and Joyce Hela of Philadelphia; and numerous nieces; nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews. Friends will be received in the BLAIR-LOWTHER FUNERAL HOME INC.; 106 East Independence St.; Perryopolis on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A prayer service will be held Saturday; May 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home; followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. John the Baptist R.C. Church with the Rev. Father John T. Euker as celebrant. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A Wake Service will be held Friday at 8 p.m. in the funeral home.

Anna Zabawsky Serbak; 93; of Belle Vernon; died Wednesday; May 11; 2005 at 9 p.m. at Country Care Manor; Washington Township. Born Sept. 19; 1911 in Charleroi; she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Mary Bubernick Zabawsky. A lifelong resident of the Mon Valley; Mrs. Serbak was a homemaker and a member of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Belle Vernon and its St. Barbara’s Altar Guild. She spent most of her life taking care of others and bringing sunshine into their lives. She will be especially missed by her nephews; Stephen Zabawsky of Pittsburgh and Samuel Zabawsky of Myrtle Beach; S.C. She was preceded in death by her husband; Joseph Serbak; on Jan. 23; 1977; and four brothers; Wassil; Andy; Steve and Samuel Zabawsky. Visitation will be held Friday; May 13 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). Relative and friends will gather Saturday; May 14 at Holy Resurrection Church; Mary Street; Belle Vernon; for 10 a.m. funeral services with the Very Rev. John J. Kluchko of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Parastas services will be held Friday at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. For those unable to attend; online condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home’s web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com

Mabel Round; 93; a lifelong resident of Belle Vernon; died Thursday; May 12; 2005 in Mon Valley Hospital. Mabel taught 3rd grade for 38 years; first at LaGrange School in the Rostraver Township system and then at the North Belle Vernon School in the combined Rostraver/Belle Vernon system. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon where for many years she taught Sunday school. She was a 1929 graduate of Monessen High School and a 1931 graduate of California State Teachers College. Mabel; born June 25; 1911; was preceded in death by her parents; Henry and Ellen Round; and a brother; Lawrence Round; age 6. Interment in Belle Vernon Cemetery was private. The FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICE; (724-929-5300); a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; handled arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Joy Bells or the Belle Vernon Public Library for children’s books. Cards of condolence and notes of remembrance of Mabel may be sent to her beloved cousin; Lillian R. Narbut and family; 319 Johnson Ave.; Belle Vernon; Pa. 15012.