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.