Ronald Charles Cerjan; 66; of Charleroi; died Sunday; Nov. 9; 2003; in Mercy Hospital; Pittsburgh. He was born in Pittsburgh on Jan. 28; 1937. Mr. Cerjan was a chef and florist in the Mon Valley; having most recently worked at Santoni’s Restaurant in Charleroi and Rocco’s Flower Shop in Monongahela. He was a member of Epiphany of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church in Monessen; the First Catholic Slovak Union Jednota 670; Croatian Fraternal Union; and the Belgian Club of Charleroi. Mr. Cerjan lived in Donora from 1957 to 1980 before moving to Charleroi. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; Angelo and Alfoncina Passini Reggiannini. He is survived by one sister; Marlene Burton of North Charleroi; his extended family; Donora Mayor John Chummy Lignelli; Patricia and Henry Pykosh of Olney; Md.; Frank Lignelli and Cia Pardus of Olney; Md.; Patricia Amatangelo and Ken Markham of Carroll Township; one aunt; Iris Thomas of Fredericktown; two nieces; Whitney Welsh and Kristin Burton; five nephews; Paul; David and Tony Pykosh and Frank and John Kevin Lignelli; great-nieces and -nephews; and several cousins. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the JAMES A. RABE FUNERAL HOME INC.; 701 Thompson Ave.; Donora. Prayers will be said Wednesday; Nov. 12; at the funeral home at 10 a.m.; followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Epiphany of Our Lord R.C. Church in Monessen at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Paul A. Lisik as celebrant. Burial will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Memorials may be made in his name to the Donora Public Library; 510 Meldon Ave.; Donora; Pa. 15033.

John Jay Yetsconish; 75; of Lynnwood; Belle Vernon; died Thursday; Nov. 6; 2003; in Hallsworth House III; Monessen. He was born March 15; 1928; in Fayette City; a son of the late Charles and Mary Savko Yetsconish. He was a veteran of the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church; Belle Vernon; Brightwell-Daugherty American Legion Post 484; Fayette City. He is predeceased by his wife; Blanche Stefanick Yetsconish; three brothers; Charles; John; and Mike Yetsconish; and three sisters; Helen Onufer; Ann Adametz and Mary Melissas. Surviving is his son; Jay Michael Yetsconish; of Kittanning; one brother; Paul Yetsconish and wife; Florence; of Connellsville; two sisters; Sophia Seals and husband; Ronald; of Lake Hopatcong; NJ; and Olga Grazzini; of Fayette City; two sisters-in law; Ann Yetsconish; of Fairhope; Belle Vernon; and Helen Yetsconish; of Fayette City; and many loving nieces; nephews and cousins. Friends will be received at the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; noon to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Divine Liturgy will be 10:30 a.m. Monday; Nov. 10; 2003; in Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church; with Rev. Fr. John Klutchko as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery; with full military rites being accorded by Post 484 honor guard. Parastas service will be 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Albert Neupaver; 79; of Lynnwood; Belle Vernon; died Tuesday; Nov. 4; 2003; in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. He was born Dec. 12; 1923; in Mather; a son of the late Joseph and Susie Grunsin Neupaver. He was a veteran of World War II; having served with the U.S. Navy. Mr. Neupaver was a member of Brightwell-Daughtery Post 484 American Legion; Fayette City; and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church; Fayette City. He is survived by his wife; Mary Vitale Neupaver; three sons; Dennis Neupaver and wife Mary of Belle Vernon; Al Neupaver and wife Barbara of McMurray and David Neupaver and wife Sharon of Southington; Conn.; two brothers; John Nipaver of Panama City; Fla.; and Edward Nipaver of Irwin; one sister; Helen Worrells of Cleveland; Ohio; nine grandchildren; Danita Celaschi; Brian Neupaver and wife Abby; Chris Neupaver and wife Jennifer; Allison; Ryan; Brandon and Buenna Neupaver; Jason Cheatle; and Rebecca Richie and husband Brian; and five great-grandchildren; Sidny Celaschi; Allyssa and Tyler Richie; and Hayley and Abigail Neupaver. Friends will be received at the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday; Nov. 7; until 9:30 a.m.; when a blessing service will take place followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit RC Church; Fayette City; with the Rev. Fr. Leonard McAlpin as celebrant. Entombment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery with full military rites being accorded by Post 484 Honor Guard.

Anthony Fritsky; 80; of Belle Vernon; Rostraver Township; died Tuesday; Nov. 4; 2003; at 5:20 a.m. Born April 27; 1923; in Priceda1e; he was the son of the late Wassil and Mary Steranka Fritsky. He was a lifelong resident of Rostraver Township; was Russian Orthodox by faith; attended Douglas School of Business and was retired from US Steel Irvin Works; where he worked in the Metalurgical Testing Department. Mr. Fritsky was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He is survived by two brothers and one sister-in-law; Alexander Fritsky of Belle Vernon and William and Nancy Fritsky of Munhall; three sisters and one brother-in-law; Anne and Vincent J. Dobos of York; and Nellie and Helen Fritsky of Belle Vernon; and several nieces; nephews; and great-nieces and -nephews. Visitation will be held 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 (724-929-6l83). Services will be held Thursday; Nov. 6 at 1:30 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. John J. Kluchko officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A Parastas service will be held Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. As a convenience to the family; condolences are accepted and given to the family from the funeral home’s web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.
.

Joan Mona Miert Niznansky died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday; Oct. 23; 2003 in Jefferson Regional Medical Center; Jefferson Borough. Mrs. Niznansky was 84. Born in Chicago; Ill.; on Aug. 19; 1919; she was a daughter of the late John and Mary Langsfeld Miert of St. Martin; Bratislava; Slovakia. She was raised in Bratislava after her parents returned to their original family home. In school; Joan excelled in home economics and clothing design. At the age of 16; she moved to Byram; Conn.; a large Slovak community; to live with her aunt and uncle Miert; and 101 first cousins. She worked there until September 1942 when she married George J. Niznansky; a Czech born in Palmerton and raised in Prague. He was well recognized in the Slovak journalistic arena for his writings and publications and by the federal government for his work against Hitler in Czechoslovakia prior to the war. George served as editor of the National Narody News where he edited and published Slovak books. During that time; Joan also served as an officer in several Slovak heritage groups. Her recipes appeared frequently in the Slovak newspaper. George and Joan managed the Slovak SOKOL Camp in New Kensington from 1952-1955. They hosted many events simultaneously; including gymnastic sets and Steelers training camps. Joan and George moved to Monessen in August 1955 and purchased a tavern from Anna Kuzma; establishing the Steel City Grill ; which was in operation until August 2003. Together; they remodeled the building built in 1906 and expanded it to serve both food and drink. Joan and George were well known for their Friday night chicken and fish dinners and had hosted many events for the local steel and coke plant workers. Customers came from Ohio; Maryland and even New Jersey. Upon the death of George in 1977; Joan continued the operation of the family tavern with the help of her son George. Joan’s many customers respected her for her ability to maintain a wholesome family environment in her establishment. Joan served as a community mother to many. Her daughter; Joan Bateman; who was employed by Boeing for 38 years; survives. Joan Bateman was an innovator in the growth of the Information Technology industry. She is published in several Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) software standards documents and is a charter member of the IEEE Software Standards Subcommittee. Joan is also survived by her son George; who assisted her in the daily operations of the Steel City Grill and is a life member of Monessen Volunteer Fire Department No. 1. A sister; Anna Demikat; survives in Broad Brook; Conn.; near her three children Emil; Carl and Linda; and daughter-in-law Marilyn. A brother; Milos and wife Vierka of Sucany; Slovakia; and their children Igor and Miro; also survive. Cousin Danny Miert and Aunt Bertha Miert are the surviving members of the Miert family in Byram; Conn. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the RHOME FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Member Firm; 1209 Grand Blvd.; Monessen. Funeral services will be held Saturday; Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Bev Banyay officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers; the family requests memorial contributions in Joan’s name be made to the Monessen VFD No. 1 Equipment Fund or the Monessen Police Department Pension Fund.

Lena Stringhill Mazzei; 92; of North Belle Vernon; died Monday; Oct. 27; 2003; at 3:05 p.m. in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. Born Nov. 19; 1910; in Fayette City; she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Josephine Mazzei Stringhill. Mrs. Mazzei was a lifelong resident of North Belle Vernon; a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church; Belle Vernon; and was retired from Johnson’s Restaurant; Monessen; where she worked as a waitress. She was a member of the Court Belle Vernon 1522; Catholic Daughters of the Americas; and the former Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659 Ladies Auxiliary. She is survived by one sister; Janie Mitchell of North Belle Vernon; with whom she made her home. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Mike Mazzei; nine brothers; Orlando; Charles; Frank; Rudolph; James; Fred; Anthony; Samuel and Louis Stringhill; and one sister; Innis Stringhill. Visitation will be held 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). A prayer service will be held Thursday; Oct. 30 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. Lawrence L. Manchas as celebrant. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian Parish and Court Belle Vernon CD of A will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Lena Stringhill Mazzei Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the funeral home. As a convenience to the family; condolences are accepted and given to the family from the funeral home’s web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

Agnes Ellen Jones; 92; of Fayette City; died Saturday; Oct. 25; 2003; in Mon Valley Care Center; Carroll Township. She was born Nov. 27; 1910; in Washington County; a daughter of the late Robert and Hannah Stanley Usher. Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband; Russell Jones; on July 17; 2000; one brother; Robert Usher; and one sister; Ruth Ferrari. Surviving is one sister; Ethel Manuel of Bethel Park. Private funeral services were held Monday; Oct. 27; followed by interment in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; Fayette City; was in charge of the arrangements.

William Henry Renstrom; 81; of Tarrs; Pa.; formerly of Fayette City; died Friday; Oct. 24; 2003; in the emergency room of the H.C. Frick Hospital; Mt. Pleasant. He was born in Fayette City on Dec. 26; 1921; the son of the late Carl Henry Renstrom and Maine Evans Renstrom. He was preceded in death by a brother; Donald Renstrom; and a sister; Sara O’Leary. He was a retired employee of the Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Company at the Allenport plant. He was a veteran of World War II; having served with the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a member of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post and a member of the First Presbyterian Church; Fayette City. He is survived by his wife; Evelyn Renstrom; a daughter; Henrietta and husband Charles Toth; of Monongahela; a son; Bruce; and wife; Mary Ellen; Renstrom; of Monongahela; four grandchildren; Beth Orosky; Chad Toth; Jennifer and Megan Renstrom; and three great-grandchildren Justin and Shannon Orosky; and Ryan Toth. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Monday until 1:30 p.m.; the hour of service with the Rev. Michael Shepard officiating. Interment will be follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery. Military honors will be provided at the cemetery by the Belle Vernon Legion and the American Legion Honor Guard of Post 484; Fayette City.

Francis S. Andrew Sr.; 83; of Rostraver Township; died Friday; Oct. 17; 2003; in his residence. He was born Nov. 17; 1919; in Smithton; a son of the late Sophia Andrew. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659. He was preceded in death by his wife; Anna Krolik Andrew; on Oct. 26; 1986. He is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law; Francis Jr. and Pamela Andrew and David Andrew; all of West Palm Beach; Fla.; and Gerald and Michelle Andrew of Newnan; Ga.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Friends will be received Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City. A blessing service will take place Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Father Leonard McAlpin officiating. A funeral service will take place Wednesday; Oct. 22; at 1 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.