Rose DeRose Forsythe; 97; of North Belle Vernon; died Sunday; Dec. 21; 2003; at 8:30 a.m. in Parish House; Perryopolis. Born May 25; 1906; in Elizabeth; she was a daughter of the late Sam and Seraphina Guarascio DeRose. A homemaker; Mrs. Forsythe was a lifelong resident of North Belle Vernon; a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon. She also was a member of the Belle Vernon Golden Age Assembly and the Belle Vernon Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary Council 3026. She is survived by one son; Frank A. Spanish of Apache Junction; Ariz.; two daughters and one son-in-law; Gilda Gladys of Belle Vernon and Norman and John Gillo of Lynnwood; Belle Vernon; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband; Albert J. Spanish and her second husband; Oliver S. Forsythe; one daughter; Jean Nogy; two step sons; Thomas and Jack Forsythe; one step daughter; Virginia Hawk; and two sisters; Mary Fiorino and Anna Scaglione. Visitation will be held Tuesday 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 Wednesday; Dec. 24 at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home; followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Sebastian R.C. Church with the Rev. Ronald Cyktor Jr.; parochial vicar; as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian Parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Rose Forsythe Tuesday at 3 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.

Joyce M. Richie; 66; of Charleroi; died Friday; Dec. 12; 2003; in Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 14; 1936; in North Charleroi; a daughter of Elizabeth Libby Joseph Behanna; who survives; and the late Noah Behanna. Surviving are her husband; Jack Richie; one son; Tom; one daughter; Sherri; one step son; Guy; three grandsons; Jeffrey; Jacob and Aaron; one sister and brother-in-law; Celia and Lawrence Davis; and four nieces. In addition to her father; she was preceded in death by one son; Quinn M. Richie; and one brother; Gerald N. Behanna. Services will be held in the chapel at RHOME FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Funeral Home; 1209 Grand Blvd.; Monessen; on Tuesday; Dec. 16; at 11 a.m. with Pastor Tom Senge officiating. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family.

Gregory A. Buddy Caruso; 65; of Rostraver Township; passed away peacefully on Saturday; Dec. 20; 2003; with his wife and son at his side. He was born May 23; 1938; in North Charleroi; a son of the late Anthony and Leona Ferrara Caruso. He was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church of Belle Vernon; Monongahela Valley Country Club; Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators; Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees and was a director of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. Mr. Caruso graduated from the Charleroi Area School District in 1956; received his B.A. in Psychology from St. Vincent College and his Master of Arts and advanced courses at West Virginia University. He began his career in the Belle Vernon Area School District as a teacher of sophomore and senior Academic English and American History. He served as the director of student teachers; chairperson of the Language Arts department; sponsor for the ski club; the junior class; prom; chess club and was a football equipment manager and trainer. Mr. Caruso was a principal; assistant superintendent of schools; became the superintendent in February 1978 and served in that position until his retirement in June 2000 after 40 years of service with the Belle Vernon Area School District. Following his retirement he worked as a consultant for the Vilex Corporation and the Charleroi Area School District. Survivors include his wife of 42 years; Theresa Gatto Caruso; one son; Gregory L. Caruso of Greensburg; one sister; Esther C. Queen of Asheville; N.C.; two sisters-in-law; Mary Lou Volante of Charleroi and Dorothy A. Fazzoni of Cokeburg; two nephews; James R. Fazzoni of Cokeburg and Brian Queen and wife Jennifer of Duluth; Ga.; two nieces; Mary Jo Todaro of Charleroi; and Laurie Ritter and husband Brian of Hendersonville; N.C.; three great-nephews; Todd and Brad Todaro and Zachary Ritter; and one great-niece; Brianna Queen. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Member Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. A Blessing Service will be in the funeral home on Tuesday; Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Sebastian R.C. Church at 10 a.m. Entombment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed in the funeral home; led by members of St. Sebastian Parish on Monday at 3 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County Now and Forever Fund ; 111 Station Place; Greensburg; Pa. 15601; or the Saint Vincent College Alumni Fund ; 300 Fraser Purchase Road; Latrobe; Pa. 15650.

Frederick G. Collins Jr.; 72; of Beaver Falls; died Thursday; Dec. 18; 2003; in Mercy Hospital; Pittsburgh. He was born July 12; 1931; in North Charleroi; a son of the late Frederick G. Sr. and Bessie Johnson Collins. He graduated from Charleroi High School; Class of 1949; and Grove City College. Mr. Collins was a veteran in the U.S. Air Force. He was a teacher in the Beaver Falls School District; retiring in 1977. Survivors include one sister; Jane Kibler of North Charleroi; one niece; Carol Krutz; and one great-niece; Amie Pivarnik; both of Oklahoma. In addition to his parents; Mr. Collins was preceded in death by one brother; Robert Collins. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the SCHROCK-HOGAN FUNERAL HOME INC.; 226 Fallowfield Ave.; Charleroi. Funeral services will be held Monday; Dec. 22; at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Jean C. Lucas; 87; of North Belle Vernon; died Friday; Dec. 19; 2003; in Havencrest Inc.; Carroll Township. A daughter of the late Charles and Lena Collinet; she was born in North Charleroi on June 30; 1916. She was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church and Court Belle Vernon 1522; Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Mrs. Lucas had resided in North Belle Vernon for over 55 years. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law; Walter C. and Sherry Lucas of Katy; Texas; one daughter and son-in-law; Barbara and Frank Wisener of North Belle Vernon; five grandchildren; Fred; Lisa; Walter; John and Becky; and five great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Walter A. Lucas; on Sept. 14; 1985; and one brother; Charles Collinet. Friends will be received on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Member Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. A Blessing Service will be in the funeral home on Monday; Dec. 22; at 9:30 a.m.; followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Sebastian R.C. Church at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed in the funeral home; led by members of St. Sebastian Parish on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Monroe Robert Schecht; 77; of New Kensington; died Thursday (Nov. 13; 2003) in Allegheny Valley Hospital; Natrona Heights; Harrison.

He was born Aug. 5; 1926; in Brighton Beach; New York; and lived in New Kensington some 40 years.

A 1944 graduate of Lincoln High School in Brooklyn; N.Y.; he graduated in 1948 from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. He later graduated from cosmetology school in Washington; D.C.

He served in the Army during World War II.

The owner of Monroe’s Beauty Shop in New Kensington for 30 years; he had been working for Medrad in Indianola; Indiana Township; for the past 11 years.

Mr. Schecht volunteered as an usher at the Benedum and Byham theatres in Pittsburgh; and was a member of the New Kensington Civic Theatre.

An avid movie buff; he also enjoyed live theatre.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years; Linda M. Hanly Schecht; three sons; Geoffrey (Tracey) Schecht of Texas; Thomas (Karen) Hudacek of Oklahoma and Shayne Schecht of California; two daughters; L. Elizabeth Galvanek of New Kensington; and Monica Atwood of New York; and a brother; Mikhail (Inez) Schecht of Florida.

Also surviving are seven grandchildren; ; Katie; Patrick; Matthew; Cliff; Karl; Alex and Morgan; and a great-granddaugther; Kayla.

He was preceded in death by a grandson; Nathan Hudacek; and his parents; William and Celia Zemon Schecht.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the ROSS G. WALKER FUNERAL HOME LTD.; a family owned and operated funeral home; 217 Freeport Road; New Kensington; where a service is set for 10 a.m. Monday. Officiating will be the Rev. Robert J. Henry; pastor of Logans Ferry United Presbyterian Church; New Kensington. Private burial will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Belle Vernon.

Stella Stushka Malinowski; 88; of Fairhope; Belle Vernon; an earthly angel; passed peacefully from this life to journey to her heavenly home on Thursday; Dec. 18; 2003; in Country Care Manor; Fayette City; with her loving and caring niece Vicky and husband Gary Adamec at her side. She was born in Boswell on Dec. 23; 1914; a daughter of the late William and Frances Golec Malinowski. She was preceded in death by two brothers; Adolph Malinowski of West Newton and Walter Malinowski of Texas; and two sisters; Blanche Moskal and Steffie DuJardin of Belle Vernon. Stushka was a very special; loving and gentle person to all who knew her. She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church; Fayette City. She is survived by her niece; Vicky Adamec and husband Gary of Belle Vernon; who cared for her; three sisters; Helen Trenk; Nellie Basile and Frances Seman; all of Belle Vernon; and several loving nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; Fayette City; and Saturday until 9:30 a.m.; when a prayer service will be held followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit Catholic Church; Fayette City; with the Rev. Fr. Leonard McAlpin as celebrant. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A parish wake service will be held Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

Susanna Hajducek Smith; 81; of Dunlevy; formerly of Roscoe; died Wednesday; Dec. 17; 2003. She was born May 15; 1922; in Perryopolis; a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna Fedorko Hajducek. She was a member of the Dunlevy United Methodist Church; retired as postmaster of the Dunlevy Post Office with over 30 years of service; a member of the National Association of WAVES; and the Dunlevy Recreation Association. She served as a Seaman First Class with the U.S. Navy from June 15; 1943 to Oct. 1; 1945. Survivors include one son: John E. Smith Sr. and wife Barbara of Lemont Furnace; two daughters; Susan Sparks and husband David of Dunlevy and Laura Smith of Seattle; Wash.; four grandchildren; John E. Smith Jr.; Steven Smith; Anna Marie Smith and Stephanie Ann Smith; all of Uniontown; three great-grandchildren; Hallie Smith; and twins Timmy and Taylor Smith; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by one son; Robert Louis Smith; one brother; John Hajducek; seven sisters; Mary Marcinek; Agnes Kotcella; Anna Miskovich; Margaret Stone; Josephine Novak; Helen Ziedman and Dorothy Baker; and special friend; Ralph Beef Rossi. Friends will be received in the ED MELENYZER FUNERAL HOMES INC.; Roscoe from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A funeral service will be held Saturday; Dec. 20; at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Bill Hastings of the Dunlevy United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Michael Andrew Hepple; 20; of Rostraver Township; died Monday; Dec. 15; 2003; at 8:01 p.m. in Children’s Hospital; Pittsburgh. Born Feb. 12; 1983; in Carroll Township; he was the son of Forrest Michael and Diane E. Yencsik Hepple; who survive and reside in Rostraver Township. Michael was a lifelong resident of Rostraver Township and member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church; Belle Vernon. He was a graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School; Class of 2001 and was attending Westmoreland County Community College. Our loving son enjoyed the outdoors; hunting and fishing and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. In addition to his parents; he is survived by one sister; Megan Hepple; at home; his maternal grandmother; Helen E. Cleri Yencsik of Lynnwood; his paternal grandparents; Forrest and Helen Gadus Hepple of Belle Vernon; his paternal great-grandmother; Anna Hayduk Gadus of Rostraver Township; and several aunts; uncles and cousins. Michael was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather; Andrew J. Yencsik; his paternal great-grandfather; John Gadus; and one uncle; Thomas C. Hepple. Visitation will be held Thursday 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 Friday; Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home followed by Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Sebastian R.C. Church. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian Parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Michael Andrew Hepple Thursday at 3 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.

Georgina Jean (Bush) Harden Ritchie; 80; of Belle Vernon; Washington Township; died Monday; Dec. 15; 2003; at 3:45 a.m.; in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township; Washington County. Born March 24; 1923; in Monessen; a daughter of the late John and Martha Jane Huscroft Bush. Mrs. Ritchie was a resident of Washington Township for the past 55 years; a member of Marion Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon and a homemaker. She was a member of the Belle Vernon Golden Age Assembly; Belle Vernon Order of Eastern Star Chapter 196; Gold Star Mother; past member of Fayette City Women’s Club; AARP; and she was the former owner of Jeannie’s Beauty Shop in Fairhope for 12 years. She is survived by her husband; Woodrow W. Ritchie; a daughter and son-in-law; Becky and Charles Wood; of Greensburg; two stepsons; Barry W. Ritchie and wife; Becky; of Belle Vernon; and Ronald W. Ritchie and wife; Beverly; of Orlando; Fla.; two stepdaughters; Sharon Ritchie; of West Mifflin; and Linda Podraza and husband; Regis; of Ruffsdale; three grandchildren; Scott Wood; Susan Eutsey and Michelle DeMine; seven stepgrandchildren; Barry Ritchie Jr.; Brian Ritchie; Christopher Ritchie; Jarrad Ritchie; Michelle Podraza; Rhiana Podraza and Colleen McManus; five great-grandchildren; Robert DeMine; Sara DeMine; Shannon DeMine; Ashley Eutsey and Aimee Ann Eutsey; a stepgreat-granddaughter; Rachel Lynn Eyles; and a sister; Barbara Bates; of Charleroi. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her first husband; Melvin Owen Harden; on Dec. 18; 1993; a son; Larry Owen Harden; on Jan. 5; 1971; a great-grandson; Elijah Wood; two sisters; Daisy Bush and Ivy Louise Steiner; and a brother; John David Bush. Visitation will be Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday 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. Services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home with Pastor William E. Lawson of Marion United Presbyterian Church of Fairhope officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. As a convenience to the family; condolences are accepted and given to the family from the funeral home’s Web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.