Antonio Sam Rizzuto;93;of Monessen;died Thursday Nov.1;2001;in Monongahela Valley Hospital. He was born Sept.18;1908;in Monessen;a son of Vincenzo Rizzuto and Annunziata Spadafore Rizzuto. He was a member of BPOE 773 of Monessen. He was an employee of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel;Monessen Plant;prior to his retirement. Surviving are a son;Ronald and wife Penny Rizzuto of Monessen;and a sister;Evelyn Luce of West Newton. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death in addition to his parents were his wife;Sue Vizza Rizzuto;five brothers;Dominic;Justin;Harold;Ernie and William Rizzuto;and three sisters;Madeline Rizzuto;Ida Mazza and Matilda Palazza. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the RHOME FUNERAL HOME;INC.;1209 Grand Blvd.;Monessen;a Golden Rule Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m.Monday in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Ralph (Beef) Rossi; 84; of Dunlevy; died Sunday; Oct. 28; 2001; in Mon Valley Hospital. A son of the late Romano and Ernesta Lenzini Rossi; he was born in Dunlevy on June 12; 1917. He was a member of Mary; Mother of the Church; Charleroi; and was a lifelong Dunlevy resident. A former mayor of Dunlevy; he was a past president of both Dunlevy Recreation and the Charleroi VFW Post 167. He was a well-known soccer player and manager. Survivors include three sons and two daughters-in-law; Ralph and Theodora Rossi of Greensboro; N.C.; John Rossi of Ft. Lauderdale; Fla.; and Robin and Mary Rossi of Stockdale; a daughter and son-in-law; Kathleen and Thomas Encrapera of Gloucester; Va.; two brothers and a sister-in-law; Thomas J. Rossi of Hayward; Calif.; Ronald and Adele Rossi of Belle Vernon; a sister; Rena Santavicca of Dunlevy; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his wife; Katherine Kruczek Rossi; on June 5; 1968; four brothers; Reno; Raymond; Ramo and Roger Rossi; and a sister; Laura Rossi. Friends will be received on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Friends will gather in the funeral home on Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. and proceed to Mary; Mother of the Church; Charleroi; for a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. with Father David Dzermejko as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.
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Edward G. Keyock; 51; of 121 Penn Oak St.; Elizabeth; died Saturday; Oct. 27; 2001; at 10:05 p.m. in Wightman Health Center; Pittsburgh. He was born Dec. 27; 1949; in Greensburg; a son of the late George and Anna Yowonske Keyock. He was a resident of Elizabeth for the past 10 years. He was a member of the Mentor Bible Church in Elizabeth and was an auto mechanic by trade. He is survived by his wife; Susan E. Sterner Keyock; to whom he was married 13 years; three sons and two daughters-in-law; Daryl and Mary Ann Bell of Jeanette; Kenneth Keyock of West Newton; and Ryan and Marlene Bell of Belle Vernon; two daughters; Christina Goldsmith of Clairton; and Georgeanna Keyock of Elizabeth; one cousin; James Yowonske of Belle Vernon; and seven grandchildren. Visitation was held Monday from noon to 1 p.m. in the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; Family owned and operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; followed by services at 1 p.m. with the Pastor Alan Hayden of the Mentor Bible Church; officiating. Interment took place in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Clifford Bush; 86; of Somers Street; Pricedale; died Wednesday; Oct. 24; 2001; in his home. A son of the late Roddie and Annie Roe Bush; he was born in Pricedale on May 31; 1915. He was a member for 54 years of the Pricedale Union Church where he faithfully served over the years as an assistant Sunday School superintendent; head usher; deacon and trustee. He will fondly be remembered for his participation in the church’s dartball team and as an avid member of the Mon Valley Retiree Bowling League. A lifelong resident of Pricedale; he was retired from U.S. Steel; Monroeville Research Center. Mr. Bush was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II where he served as a technician in the 24th Army Division Signal Company. Citations of commendation included the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars; the Good Conduct Medal; Bronze Arrowhead and Victory Medal. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by three brothers; Clarence; William and Howard Bush. Survivors include his wife of 53 years; Doris Echart Bush; two daughters and sons-in-law; Marianne and Ronald Fye of Elizabethtown and Carol J. and David Carson on North Charleroi; two sons and daughters-in-law; Clifford E. and Linda Bush of Meadville; Donald W. and Robin Bush of Elizabethtown; a brother; Henry Bush of Pricedale; 10 grandchildren; Brian; Allison and Benjamin Fye; Stephanie Bush Foltz and her husband Joseph; Timothy Bush; Jonathan and Joshua Bush; Heather; Zachary and Caleb Carson and a great granddaughter; Tiffany Foltz. The heritage left to his family is one in which his faith and love of the Lord Jesus Christ will always be remembered. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Funeral services will be in the funeral home at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. James Mimidis officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. God’s Garden – God looked around his garden; and found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth; and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you; and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful; he always takes the best. He knew that you were suffering; he knew you were in pain. He knew that you would never get well on this earth again. He saw the road was getting rough; and the hills were hard to climb. So he closed your weary eyelids; and whispered ‘Peace be thine.’ It broke our hearts to lose you; but you didn’t go alone. For part of us went with you; the day God called you home.

The Rev. Vernon H. Bowers; 76; of Bridgeville; died Tuesday; Oct. 23; 2001; in St. Clair Hospital; Pittsburgh. A son of the late Howard and Lillian Montgomery Bowers; he was born in Belle Vernon; April 2; 1925. The Rev. Bowers was a member of the Mt. Lebanon Christian Church; the Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Scottish Rite. He was a graduate of North Belle Vernon High School; Johnson Bible College and had earned two degrees from Butler University. He had served several churches; including churches in Monessen; Dayton; Ohio; Marion; Ind.; and Mt. Lebanon; from which he retired; in 1992. He was an interim pastor in Brownsville; Uniontown; Greensburg; Monongahela; Washington and Bethel Park; all in Pa. He served for several years as chaplain of St. Clair Hospital Rehabilitation Center. He had also been on several committees for the national; regional and local Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and ecumenical projects. He was a current board member of the Thomas Campbell Apartments in Washington; Pa. The Rev. Bowers was known for his wisdom; warmth and wit. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his wife; Ellamae Owens Bowers; Aug. 23; 2001; and a brother; Melvin Bowers; Dec. 1995. Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law; the Rev. Howard E. and the Rev. Saundra Michael-Bowers; of Indianapolis; Ind.; the Rev. Kevin and Diane Bowers; of Weirton; W.Va.; and V. Paul and Janet Bowers; of Pittsburgh; and two grandchildren; Julia and James Bowers; of Pittsburgh. Friends will be received Friday from 10 to 11 a.m.; the time of prayers; in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Mt. Lebanon Christian Church; corner of Cedar Boulevard and Hollycrest Drive; Pittsburgh. In lieu of flowers; the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Mt. Lebanon Christian Church; Vernon and Ellamae Bowers Memorial Fund.

Rebecca A. Anderson; 96; of Phoenix; Ariz.; formerly of Monessen; died Wednesday; Oct. 3; 2001; in Phoenix. She was born Dec. 29; 1904; in Braddock. A 1923 graduate of Monessen High School; she lived in Monessen until moving to Phoenix in 1987. She was preceded in death by her husband; Glen S. Anderson; and one granddaughter; Heather Balog; in 1993. Survivors include one daughter; Gladys Clark; with whom she resided; and two grandsons; James and Randy Balog. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery on Monday; Oct. 22. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m.

William A. Dawson; 78; of Graham Street; Belle Vernon; died Monday; Oct. 15; 2001; in Mon Valley Hospital. A son of the late William and Jessie Sylvester Dawson; he was born in Belle Vernon on Nov. 23; 1923. Baptist by faith; he had been a lifelong resident of Belle Vernon. Mr. Dawson was a member of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659 and the VFW Post 699. He retired from the Monessen plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel in 1984 and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II; having served with Company B; 503rd paratroopers infantry. He received a Purple Heart for injuries received in combat. Survivors include three sons and two daughters-in-law; William D. and Sandra Dawson of Monessen; Jeff Dawson and Eric and Barbara Dawson; a brother; Jack Dawson; a sister; Lois Culbertson; all of Belle Vernon; and five grandchildren; Billie Jo; Nikki; Matthew; Juliann and Amanda Dawson. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m Wednesday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule member firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; where funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday with the Rev. Mark Freed; pastor of the First Baptist Church of Belle Vernon; officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Belle Vernon American Legion will hold services at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.

George Namie; 87; of Fallowfield Township; died Monday; Oct. 15; 2001; in Mon Valley Hospital. A son of the late Michael and Habose Dahma Namie; he was born Jan. 21; 1914; in Monongahela. He was a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of Monessen. He resided in Fallowfield Township since 1975 and had formerly lived in Monongahela and Belle Vernon. A lifelong barber; Mr. Namie owned and operated his own barber shop in Belle Vernon from 1948 until 1991. Survivors include his lifelong companion; Carol F. Dugan; a son and daughter-in-law; Russell and Carla Namie of Youngwood; two daughters and sons-in-law; Patricia and Lloyd Marsden; Georgiann and George M. Michner; all of Belle Vernon; a brother; Thomas Namie of Boca Raton; Fla.; two sisters; Frances Restivo and Mary Acton; both of Monongahela; and five grandchildren; Mark Dolfi; George D. Michner; Dean Michner; Adam Namie and Allison Namie. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by three brothers; Michael; John and William Namie; two sisters; Helen Isaac and Norma O’Bade; and a son-in-law; Ernest Dolfi; in 1970. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Sypridon Greek Orthodox Church of Monessen with Father Kosta Petrogeorge as celebrant. Entombment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; is handling the arrangements.

L. Carol Pushkar; 66; of Erie; formerly of Belle Vernon; died Friday; Oct. 12; 2001; in Fairview Manor Nursing Home; Fairview. She was born Oct. 16; 1934; in North Charleroi; a daughter of the late Samuel and Hazel Larguire Daugherty; who survives and resides in Belle Vernon. An ordained minister since 1985; Mrs. Pushkar had been very active in Christian activities. She founded an interfaith fellowship in 1975; known as Come Together in Jesus’ Name out of which grew a ministry to women; Mary and Martha Joy Fellowships. She had taken two life-changing trips to the Orient with Evangelist Norma Lam Sung; as she witnessed the power of a mighty God move in a great way. She had ministered in many parts of the U.S.; in many churches; women’s fellowships; retreats; seminars and Bible study groups. Along with radio programs; she had also been a substitute hostess for A New Day television program originating in Clarksburg; W. Va.; and had been a guest on Christian TV 40; Pittsburgh. It was also her privilege to serve as an instructor for the Church of God Bible Institute. She also served as Associate Pastor on Mission status with the Church of God and then went on to the evangelistic field of the church. She was a former member of Green Valley Church of God in Carmichaels. In addition to her father; she was preceded in death by a sister; Estelle J. Roberts. In addition to her mother; she is survived by her husband; J. Leonard Pushkar of Erie; two daughters; Mrs. Jay (Cathleen) Riggle of Erie and Mrs. Dr. David (Melanie) Birch of Lewes; Del.; a son; Dennis and his wife Jane Pushkar of North Huntingdon; six grandchildren; Amy; Emily and Mark Riggle and Lydia and Miles Birch and Jonathan Pushkar. Friends will be received in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon; a Golden Rule Member Firm; on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Tony Barnes officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.