Edith V.Laratta;91;formerly of Graham Street;Belle Vernon;died Friday;April 30;1999;at 10:30 p.m. in the Adult Assisted Living Center;Dunlevy. Mrs.Laratta was born Sept.21;1907;in Monessen;the daughter of the late Michael and Antoinette Cecelia Guerra. She was a member of St.Sebastian Roman Catholic Church;the Catholic Daughters of America Court 1522;the Anita Garabaldi Society and the American Legion Auxiliary;all of Belle Vernon;where she lived most of her adult life. She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law;Dolores and John Yurkovich of Belle Vernon and Marie Nelson of St.Albans;W.Va.;four grandchildren;Thomas C.Nelson;Janice Ellis;John J.Yurkovich and Carol Datovech;and four great-grandchildren. Besides her parents;she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years;James Laratta in 1983;a brother;Joseph Guerra;a sister;Theresa Parente;a son-in-law;James T.Nelson;and a grandson;James R.Nelson. Friends will be received on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Ferguson Funeral Home Inc.;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon;where funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. with the Rev.Fr.Donald Trexler;parochial vicar;officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. On Monday;Anita Garabaldi Society will hold a service at 2:30 p.m.;the American Legion Auxiliary will hold a service at 2:45 p.m. and the Legion of Mary will hold a service at 3 p.m.;all in the funeral home. The Ferguson Funeral Home Inc.is in charge of arrangements.

Pressley H.Lomax;65;of Belle Vernon;died Thursday;April 22;1999;in Mon Valley Hospital. He was born March 25;1934;in Donora;a son of the late William W.and Ruby G.Lomax. He served in the U.S.Navy. Survivors include three sons;Pressley H.Lomax Jr.;Jubal Lomax and Kevin Lomax;seven daughters;Kim;Debbie;Felicia;Eyvette;Bridgette;Vicky and Audra;one brother;James Lomax of Monessen;two sisters;Odessa Epps of Monessen and Dolores C.Wright of Washington;D.C. In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by one brother;William W.Lomax;and one sister;Ruby G.Arnold. Visitation and burial will be private. The Percy E.Law Jr.Funeral Homes;Inc.;Donora;is in charge of the arrangements.

Persis Alma Lewitsky;85;of 500 Blind Lane;Belle Vernon;died Wednesday;Feb.24;1999;at 5 a.m.in Mon Valley Hospital;Carroll Township. Born Jan.20;1914;in Elizabeth Township;she was a daughter of the late A.C.and Mabel Howell Rodibaugh. Protestant by faith;she spent most of her adult life in Belle Vernon. Mrs.Lewitsky had worked at the former Belle Vernon 5&10 store and the former Weiss Market in Lynnwood. For a short time during World War II;she worked as a welder for a shipyard in Newport News;Va. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law;Frank A.and Harriett Varchulik of Cannonsburg and Albert C.and Lynn Varchulik of Edinboro;one stepson and daughter-in-law;James and Karen Lewitsky of Monessen;one brother;Albert Cecil Rodibaugh of Brentwood;eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.in the Ferguson Funeral Home;Inc.700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon;where services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m.with the Rev.Frank Sgromolo;pastor of First Baptist Church of Belle Vernon;officiating. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Ferguson Funeral Home Inc.is in charge of arrangements.

John Edward Letrick;67;of Fredericktown;formerly of California;died Monday;July 20;1998;at 2:35 p.m. in Brownsville General Hospital. He was born July 28;1930;in California;a son of the late John and Kathryn Mehok Letrick. He was a member of St.John Evangelical Lutheran Church;Charleroi. A veteran of the Korean Conflict;he was a member of American Legion Post 0391;Fredericktown;and the Young Men’s Club;California. He was retired as an electrician at California University of Pennsylvania. Survivors include one brother and sister-in-law;Carl Robert and Joan letrick of Fredericktown;and one sister;Mrs.Steve (Catherine J.) Lovasic of Belle Vernon. Friends will be received Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the John E.Greenlief Funeral Home;323 Fourth St.;California. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. in St.John Evangelical Lutheran Church;Charleroi;with the Rev.Stephen Hurnyak officiating. Burial will be in Belle Vernon. A prayer service will be held Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home. The John E.Greenlief Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Thomas J.Lofink Jr.59;of Fairhope;(Belle Vernon);died Saturday;July 4;1998;in Mon Valley Hospital. He was born Aug.15;1938;in North Charleroi;a son of the late Thomas J.Lofink Sr.and Sophia (Sally) Deluga Lofink who survives and resides in Fairhope;(Belle Vernon). Mr.Lofink was a veteran of the U.S.Marine Corps. He was an employee of Mikel Trucking in Smithton. Survivors;in addition to his mother;include his wife;Eleanor Kuklar Lofink;two sons and daughters-in-law;Thomas W.Lofink and Lisa Zippay of Belle Vernon and Dennis and Tammy Lofink of Elliott City;Md.;one daughter and son-in-law;Sheryl Benicky and Mark of (Arnold City) Belle Vernon;one brother;Ret.Col.William J.Lofink of Sarasota;Fla.;two sisters;Kathleen Falise of Mesa;Az.and Marleen Updegraff of Greensburg;and two grandsons;Robert Mason Lofink of Elliott City and Matthew Thomas Benicky of (Arnold City) Belle Vernon. In addition to his father;he was preceded in death by a brother;Robert P.Lofink in 1990. Friends will be received in the Eley McCrory Funeral Home Inc.334 Main St.;Fayette City;Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.;Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.and Wednesday until 9:30 a.m.;when a Blessing service will be held in the funeral home;followed by Funeral Mass at 10 a.m.in the Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church;Fayette City;with the Rev.Leonard McAlpin as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Eley/McCrory Funeral Home Inc.is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas Guy Leone Sr.;73;of 1019 Graham St.;Belle Vernon;died Monday;March 2;1998;at 1:38 a.m.in Mon Valley Hospital. He was born July 3;1924;in Monessen;a son of the late Anthony and Josephine Catarozzi Leone. He resided in the Belle Vernon community for the past eight years. He was a member of St.Sebastian Catholic Church;Belle Vernon. He retired in 1985 as a security guard at the Corning Glass Works;Charleroi. Survivors include his wife;June Story Leone;five sons;Thomas Guy Leone Jr.of Irwin;Joseph A.Leone of Charleroi;John F.Leone of Newell;Thomas D.Leone and Anthony Leone;both of Greensburg;two daughters;Mrs.James (Karen) Donohoe of Mt.Oliver and Mrs.Thomas (Tina) Wilson of Belle Vernon;two brothers;John and Alfred Leone;both of Monessen;one sister;Pasquline Tat Ramsey of Avalon;14 grandchildren;one step-granddaughter and three step-great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by four sisters;Mary Merando;Rapha (Rolly) Fucco;Julia Borruso and Florence Leone;four grandchildren;James Leone Jr;Anthony Leone Jr.;Gabriel Leone and Thomas Leone. Friends will be received Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m.and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.in the Leonard J.Parzynski Funeral Home;626 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon. A Prayer service will be held Thursday at 9:30 a.m.in the funeral home;followed by Funeral Mass at St.Sebastian Catholic Church;Belle Vernon;with the Rev.E.George Saletrik;parochial vicar;as celebrant. Burial will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Legion of Mary will recite the Rosary Wednesday at 3 p.m.in the funeral home. The Leonard J.Parzynski Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Kathryn Lloyd Lorinchak;89;of 119 Middle St.;Fayette City;died Tuesday;Feb.10;1998;in Presbyterian University Hospital. Born July 17;1908;in Snowden Township;she was a daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Spencer Lloyd. Mrs.Lorinchak was a life-time resident of the Fayette City area;and a member of the Braznell Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. She taught Sunday School for more than 50 years at both the Fayette City and Braznell Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. She also held the position of president of the Women’s Missionary Prayer Fellowship for many years. In addition to her parents;she was preceded in death by he husband;Andrew Lorinchak;in 1968;a daughter;Betty;in 1990;and three brothers;William;Edmund and John Lloyd. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law;Jean and Sheridan Livingstone;Kathryn and Gilbert Osborne and Judy and William Arrow;all of Fayette City;two sons and daughters-in-law;Andrew and Nola Lorinchak of Ashburn;Va.;and Edmund and Marianne Lorinchak of Pittsburgh;13 grandchildren;17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.and Friday until 11 a.m. in the Eley/McCrory Funeral Home;Inc.;Fayette City;at which time services will be held in the funeral home with the Rev.Carl Hughes;retired pastor of Braznell Christian and Missionary Alliance Church;officiating. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers;gifts amy be sent in Mrs.Lorinchak’s honor to the Braznell Christian and Missionary Fund;Grindstone;Pa. The Eley/McCrory Funeral Home Inc.is in charge if arrangements.