ODBERT
STEEN
CARSON
SHEARIN
VIRGINIA MAE NICCOLAI
Virginia Niccolai; 91; formerly of Charleroi; died Saturday; Oct. 20; 2012; in Charlestown; after a lengthy illness. Born in Vesta on Aug. 1; 1921; a daughter of the late Nello and Carobina Niccolai. A graduate of Charleroi High School; she received her bachelor’s degree from California State Teacher’s College and a master’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas; N.M. Miss Nic; whom she was lovingly referred to by her students; was a teacher in the Charleroi Area School District for 42 years. She was known for her work in promoting art with students of special needs and to her senior high students. While residing in Charleroi; she was a community activist and involved with the former Mother of Sorrows Church and Mary; Mother of the Church Parish; Charleroi; and was the first President of the Ladies Confraternity of Christian Mothers. A school sponser for the classes of 1962; 1971; 1982; 1983 and 1984; past president and vice president of the Pennsylvania Teachers’ Association; president of the Charleroi and Washington County Business and Professional Women; president of the Board of the John K. Tener Library; where she was also the Chariman of the Craft Committee and President of the Board of Directors of the Mon Valley Health Center in Monessen. Upon moving to Maryland; she became a resident of the Charlestown Retirement Community and became active in the Welcome Home Troops Group; Garden Club; and the Annual Art Show. She was on the Educational Committee for the Community College of Baltimore County; chaired events such as the New Year’s Eve Party; Silver Anniversary Celebration; worked with residents to prepare lunches for students in local schools; organized parties for the residents on her floor and was active in Our Lady of the Angels Church. She recieved First and Second Prizes for her art work in the Annual Art show and was honored to receive the State of Maryland’s Senior Volunteer Awad and enlisted into the Maryland Senior Hall of Fame. She is survived by 12 cousins; Ralph Niccolai; Kathleen McCullough; Harry Niccolai; Barbara Jean Sherbondy; Charlene Lario; Amelia Cheverine; Claudia Martucci; Emma Jean Ferrari; Patricia Kasuda; Richard Panteleo; Verona Lambert and Timothy Ferrari. There will be a visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday; Oct. 26; at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Catonsville; Md.; with a Mass at 11 a.m. There will also be a visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday; Oct. 28; in the LEONARD M. PAVLIC FUNERAL HOMES INC.; 235 Fallowfield Ave.; Charleroi. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday; Oct. 29; 2012; at Mary; Mother of the Church; Charleroi with the Rev. Gerald Mikonis as celebrant. Internment will follow at Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers; the family requests donations be made to the Student Scholarship Fund at the Charlestown Retirement Community c/o Philanthropy 719 Maiden Choice Lane Catonosville; MD 21228; or to the Charleroi John K. Tener Library Fund 7th Street and Fallowfield Ave.; Charleroi; PA 15022.
NANCY L.SHAFFER CWIAKALA
Nancy L. Cwiakala; 70; of Belle Vernon; went to be with the Lord on Tuesday; May 4; 2010; in her home. A daughter of the late Kelly and Gladys Kinner Shaffer; she was born in Vanderbilt on Feb. 1; 1940. A member of the First United Methodist Church of Belle Vernon; she had resided in Belle Vernon since 1962; and was formerly of Brownsville. Nancy retired after 25 years of employment with Kmart. Survivors include three daughters and two sons-in-law; Vicky DeSimone and her friend; Reggie Sepesy; Patty; and Tim Byrne; all of Belle Vernon; and Susan and Frank Szczerba; of West Chester; Pa.; four grandchildren; Jessica Cervantes; Joe Cervantes Jr.; Staci and Frankie Szczerba; a close friend; Donna Yoder; of Uniontown; and her loving pet; Buddy. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her first husband; Anthony DeSimone; on Aug. 10; 1974; second husband; Walter Sonny Cwiakala on Jan. 20; 2009; and a sister; Shirley Wilkinson. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC.; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; (724-929-5300). www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com. Funeral services will be Friday in the funeral home at 11:30 a.m. with the Rev. David Zona officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.
