Sophia Yakim; 81; of Fayette City; passed away peacefully on Friday; Dec. 26; 2003; in Country Care Manor. She was born Oct. 28; 1922; in Fayette City; a daughter of the late Luke and Mary Salko Yakim. She attended Fayette City High School and was a member of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church; Belle Vernon. She was preceded in death by two sisters; Anna Puskas and Helen Portman; three brothers; Luke; Charles and John Yakim; and one nephew; Richard Portman. She is survived by one sister; Mary Lazzari of Belle Vernon; one sister-in-law; Sarah Yakim of Belle Vernon; one brother-in-law; David Portman of Schoharie; N.Y.; and many nieces; nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews. Friends will be received at the ELEY McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Divine Liturgy will take place on Monday; Dec. 29; 2003; at 2 p.m. in Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church; Belle Vernon; with the Rev. Fr. Igor Soroka as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Parastas service will take place Sunday at 8 p.m. in the funeral home.

Pete Vargo; 82; of Rostraver Township; died Thursday; Dec. 25; 2003; in Jefferson Regional Medical Center; Jefferson Borough. He was born in Brownsville on Feb. 25; 1921; a son of the late Steve and Anna Vargo. Protestant by faith; Mr. Vargo was a resident of Rostraver Township since 1960 and was a former Rostraver Township Commissioner. He was retired from Pittsburgh Local #3 as a structural iron worker. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a bombardier navigator; having flown 47 combat missions; and was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was a member of the 57th Bomb Wing Association. He is survived by his wife; Emma Louise McKee Vargo; a son; David Dwayne Vargo and wife; Susan; of Munhall; two brothers; Andy Vargo; of Brownsville; and Steve Vargo; of Cleveland; Ohio; a sister; Helen Donahue; of Linden; N.J.; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by a sister; Ann Duckett. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Drive; Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township; where funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Mike Truszkowsky officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver Township.

Helen Roman Shetterly; 86; of Streetsboro; Ohio; formerly of Fayette City; died Monday; Dec. 22; 2003; in Maplewood Care Center; Streetsboro; Ohio. She was born June 16; 1917; in Fayette City; a daughter of the late Andrew and Anna Paulocheck Kosanko. She was preceded in death by her first husband; Michael Roman; and second husband; Charles Shetterly. Surviving are her children; Michael D. Roman and wife; Janice; of Streetsboro; and Elizabeth Speers; of Streetsboro; three brothers; John; Steve; and Joseph Kosanko; all of Fayette City; four sisters; Mary Waite; of Erie; Elizabeth Lang; of Pittsburgh; Katherine Esper; of Columbia Station; and Irene and husband; John Pallo; of Stockdale; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Friends will be received at the ELEY-MCCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday and until 10 a.m. Monday; Dec. 29; the hour of services in the funeral home; with Rev. John Harris officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Thomas A. Sassak; 66; of Rostraver Township; died Wednesday; Dec. 24; 2003; at his home. He was born Aug. 27; 1937; in Monessen; a son of the late Andrew S. and Mary C. Baron Sassak. A resident of the Belle Vernon area for the past 41 years; Mr. Sassak was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church; Belle Vernon. He was a 1955 graduate of Monessen High School and retired from Elliott Company in Jeannette; where he worked as a drafting checker. Mr. Sassak was a social member of Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659 and a member of Monessen Croatian Society; Society of Oldies Collectors; Naomi Athletic Club; Citizens Association of Pricedale; Elliott Retirees Club; Slovak Cultural Society and Speers Boat Club. Survivors include his wife; Louise M. Dolfi Sassak; a son and daughter-in-law; Thomas and Lisa Sassak; of Belle Vernon; a daughter and son-in-law; Renee and Charlie Couser; of Belle Vernon; and three grandchildren; Jessica M. and Michael B. Couser and Erin M. Sassak. Visitation was held Friday in the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; family owned and operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; 724-929-6183. A prayer service was held Saturday in the funeral home; followed by a funeral Mass in St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church; Belle Vernon; with the Rev. Ronald Cyktor Jr.; parochial vicar; as celebrant. Interment was in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian Parish recited the rosary for the departed soul of Thomas A. Sassak on Friday in the funeral home. For those unable to attend; online condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com

Michael P. Semancik; 90; of Belle Vernon; died Sunday; Dec. 21; 2003; at 2:50 p.m. in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. Born July 9; 1913; in Wickhaven; he was a son of the late Michael P. and Elizabeth Gurbal Semancik. He was a lifelong resident of Belle Vernon; a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon; and he was retired from the former Republic Steel; where he worked as a coal miner. Mr. Semancik was a member of the Belle Vernon Knights of Columbus Council 3026 and a former member of the St. Sebastian Holy Name Society. He is survived by one son; Robert F. Semancik of Belle Vernon; two daughters and sons-in-law; Patricia and Siegfried Troeger of Guatamala City and Maryann and Wayne Davis of Los Angeles; Calif.; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; five brothers and one sister-in-law; John Semancik of Van Voorhis; Steve and Mary Semancik of Belle Vernon; Frank Semancik of Belle Vernon; Anthony Semancik of Fayette City and Joseph Semancik of Belle Vernon; and one sister and brother-in-law; Julia and Joseph Kluh of La Plata; Md. He was preceded in death by his wife; Julia Bradish Semancik; on July 13; 2003; one son; Michael P. Semancik; two brothers; Andrew and Albert Semancik; and one sister; Mary Miller. 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 noon in the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 12:30 p.m. in St. Sebastian R.C. Church with the Rev. Lawrence J. Manchas as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian Parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Michael P. Semancik on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. and the Belle Vernon Knights of Columbus will conduct services Tuesday evening at 7:30 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.

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.