Elizabeth S. Betty Houseman; 82; formerly of Fayette Avenue; Belle Vernon (Fairhope); died Tuesday; Dec. 3; 2002; in Mon Valley Hospital. A daughter of the late George and Anna Shandor Seman; she was born May 20; 1920; in Arnold City. She was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church; the C.D. of A.; the Legion of Mary and the Third Order of St. Frances; all of Belle Vernon. Mrs. Houseman had resided most of her adult life in Fairhope. Survivors include two sisters and a brother-in-law; Sue Beeler of Arnold City; and Helen and Charles Biksey of Belle Vernon; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; James W. Houseman; who died Aug. 10; 1977; three brothers; George; Paul and Andy Seman; and two sisters; Anna Matway; and Mary Seman in infancy. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; (724-929-5300); a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. A Blessing Service will be in the funeral home on Friday at 11:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Sebastian R.C. Church at noon with Father Ronald Cyktor; parochial vicar; as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed in the funeral home on Thursday at 3 p.m. led by members of St. Sebastian Parish.

Rose R. Bitonti; 95; of Belle Vernon; died Tuesday; Dec. 3; 2002; in Mon Valley Hospital. A daughter of the late James and Lucy Lopez Rogers; she was born May 2; 1907; in San Giovanni Fiore; Provance of Calabria; Italy. She was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church; the C.D. of A. and the Annita Garibaldi Society; all of Belle Vernon. Mrs. Bitonti had resided in Belle Vernon for almost 90 years. Survivors include three daughters; Sara Mitchell; Lucy Kroskie and Nancy Byron; all of Belle Vernon; two sons and daughters-in-law; Tony P. and Marion Bitonti of Coal Center and James V. and Donna Bitonti of Belle Vernon; four sisters; Kay Cacciamani and Jennie Forte; both of Belle Vernon; Virginia Veltri of Westland; Mich.; and Sara Worry of Belle Vernon; one brother; Joe Rogers of Clarksburg; W.Va.; 10 grandchildren; Janet Yowonske; Karen Rischitelli; Nancy Magette; Rose Weston; Tina Johnson; Tonette Nicholaus; James A. Bitonti; Toni Lynn Bitonti; Melissa Echard and Jamie R. Byron; and 19 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Tony Bitonti; on Sept. 23; 1979; and a sister; Mary Tomaro; on Oct. 5; 1993. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; (724-929-5300) a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. A Blessing Service will be in the funeral home on Friday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Sebastian R.C. Church at 10 a.m. with Father Ronald Cyktor; parochial vicar; as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The members of the Annita Garibaldi Society will meet in the funeral home on Thursday at 3 p.m. to hold services followed by a rosary led by members of St. Sebastian Parish at 3:15 p.m. The Belle Vernon Lions will meet to pay their respects Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Loretto M. (Flick) Steele; 101; of North Belle Vernon; died Monday; Dec. 2; 2002; at 9:30 a.m. in Country Care Manor; Washington Township. Born Dec. 27; 1900; in Pittsburgh; she was a daughter of the late Frank and Martha Jane (Bradley) Flick. A homemaker; Mrs. Steele had been a resident of North Belle Vernon since 1935 and was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon; where she sang with the choir for many years. She was also a member of Sweet Adelines of the Mon Valley. The last surviving member of her immediate family; she is survived by nieces; Mary L. Steiner of Scottdale; Rozella Bartko of Charleroi and Joan Timko of Perryopolis; a nephew; William Bartko of Vanderbilt; and many other nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews; great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Wilbur Steele; in July 1976; and three sisters; Ethel McMahon; Marie Bartko and Grace McCarthy. 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. A prayer service will be held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home; followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. John R. Cindric; V.F.; pastor; as celebrant. Interment; Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Loretto Steele Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the funeral home. Condolences accepted at www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

John Jack Carl McCrory
Allenport

John Jack Carl McCrory; 80; of Allenport; died Sunday; Nov. 24; 2002; in Mon Valley Hospital. Born June 20; 1922; he was the son of the late Carl and Grace Rutledge McCrory. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years; LaVerne Burry McCrory; who passed away Aug. 16; 2002. Mr. McCrory is survived by four children and three grandchildren; son Chris Lee McCrory and wife Joanne of Bayport; N.Y.; daughter Judy McCrory Paich and husband Richard of Aliquippa; son Jon David McCrory and wife Lucretia of Roscoe; and daughter Jeannie Lu McCrory of Allenport. His grandchildren include Jeremiah Richard Paich and Christy McCrory Paich of Aliquippa and Laurel Saxon McCrory of Roscoe. He is also survived by his twin sister; June Dunlap and husband Ray of Fayette City; and younger sister Katherine Mooers of Belle Vernon; and sisters-in-law Minetta Farquhar of Allenport; Marie Regula of Charleroi; and Ruth Chester of Roscoe; as well as numerous nieces; nephews and step grandchildren. Mr. McCrory worked for five years as a carpenter for the Brownsville Construction Company and for the Charleroi Supply Company. During World War II; he served in the U.S. Air Force as a Pilot Class 44E with the Western Training Command and the 15th Air Force in Foggia; Italy. He flew B-17s with the 463rd Bomb Group; 773rd Bomb Squadron. Mr. McCrory was a member of American Legion Post 484 of Fayette City. He received his BS in education from California State Teachers College; his MS from the University of Pittsburgh; and did doctoral work at West Virginia University. Mr. McCrory was a member of the Epsilon Pi Tau International Honor Society. He was a Professor Emeritus of California University of Pennsylvania; having taught in the Science and Technology Department (formerly Industrial Arts) for 26 years. Prior to that; Mr. McCrory taught at the Blairsville and Greenville high schools. He was a member of the PSEA; NEA; Association of State College and University Professors; California University Emeriti Faculty Association; National Industrial Arts Association; and the Pennsylvania Industrial Arts Association. He was a life member and past chief of the Allenport Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. McCrory was a member of the Allenport United Methodist Church; having served as a lay leader; lay speaker; and chairman of the administrative board. He was a member of the Yough-a-Mon Camping Club; and the Elco Amateur Radio Society (callsign: N3WAN). For six years; he was a dispatcher for 5-Town Ambulance Service and delivered Meals on Wheels in the mid-Mon Valley. Mr. McCrory was a member of the Advisory Board for the Center in the Woods Senior Citizens Center in California and an AARP instructor of 55 Alive/Mature Driving classes. As a Mason; he was a member of the Blairsville F&AM; No. 355 Acacia Lodge; and a member of the Lodge Council and Chapter of the Coudersport Consistory; Valley of Coudersport; and a supporting member of the Uniontown Lodge of Perfection. For the past 14 years; he was known for his bicycle riding throughout the communities of Allenport; Stockdale; Roscoe and Elco. In all; he rode his bicycle over 25;000 miles during these rides. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the ED MELENYZER FUNERAL HOMES INC.; Roscoe. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday; Nov. 27; in the funeral home with the Rev. Joan Rousseaux of Allenport United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Services will be conducted 7 p.m. Tuesday by the Allenport Volunteer Fire Department and at 8 p.m. by American legion Post 484; Fayette City.

d.

Sabatino Muro; 76; of Belle Vernon; died 1 p.m. Friday; Nov. 22 at his home. He was born in Belle Vernon Mar. 26; 1926; a son of the late Antonio and Felicia Catalano Muro. He was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon He was a veteran of World War II; having served in the U.S. Navy. He was a retired tractor operator at the U.S. Steel Irvin Works. Mr. Muro was also self-employed as a home roofing repairman. He is survived by his wife; Margaret Fazio Muro; two grandsons; Alan G. Muro and Steve Eck; two granddaughters; Terri Ann and husband Matthew Mandia and Carolyn Muro; four great grandchildren; Shannon Renee Muro; Sabatino Alan Muro; Justin Matthew Mandia and Jeremy Dominick Mandia; and two stepgrandsons; Louis and Tony Muro. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his son; Alan R. Muro. Private services and interment will take place at Belle Vernon Cemetery with the Rev. John R. Cindric V.F.; pastor of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church of Belle Vernon officiating. LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; family owned and operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon in charge of arrangements.

Elmo Lazzari; 88; formerly of Fairhope (Belle Vernon); died Friday; Nov. 22; 2002; in Harmar Village Care Center; Harmarville. A son of the late Salvatore and Nunziatina Dolfi Lazzari; he was born Aug. 17; 1914; in Rostraver Township. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Belle Vernon; the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659; Disabled American Veterans Post 1986 and the Charleroi VFW Post 167. A lifelong resident of Belle Vernon; he retired in 1971 from the chemical lab of the former Page Wire and Steel Plant in Monessen. He was a U.S. Army infantry veteran of World War II; having served in Italy. He had received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star medal. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law; Nancy and George Kasinski of New Kensington; a sister; Inez Lehew of Belle Vernon; and three grandchildren; Lisa Glasgow of Huntersville; N.C.; Greg Glasgow of Madison; Ga. and Scott Glasgow of Macon; Ga. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Member Rule Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Funeral services will be in the funeral home 11 a.m. Monday; with the Rev. Donald A. Bowers officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The members of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659 and the Charleroi VFW Post 167 will meet in the funeral home 7:30 p.m. Sunday to hold services. The colors will be retired; in ceremony; following the committal service on Monday by Post 659.

Lillian Headley Pesi; 80; of Belle Vernon; died Sunday; Nov. 17; 2002; in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. Born in Belle Vernon on Dec. 26; 1921; she was the daughter of the late Curtis Richard and Bertha Anderson Headley. A homemaker; Mrs. Pesi was an active member of Olive Branch Baptist Church; Rostraver Township; where she previously taught and attended the women’s Sunday school class and the Women’s Missionary Society. She also delivered Meals on Wheels and worked at the Rostraver Foodbank. She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law; Linda and John Dudash of Eighty Four; two grandchildren; Michael Dudash and wife Lori and Jonna McConaughy and husband David; and two great-grandsons; Ethan Dudash and Alec McConaughy. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Mario Rusty Pesi; on Sept. 25; 2002; and two sisters; Thelma Vandivner and Marguerite Mihalic. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 9 p.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Drive; Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Norman Melser; pastor of Olive Branch Baptist Church; officiating. Entombment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery Mausoleum; Rostraver Township.