News - December 2019 RSS Feed

What does it mean to be a family? We see the example in the Blessed Trinity. For there to be a family, there must be love! The nature of love is to be unselfish and self-giving. A family can never consist of just one person; it necessarily involves others. In the very being of God, there is community of persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The love that binds the Father and the Son is so pure and so self-giving that it is the Holy Spirit.

Judith Ann “Ju-Ju” Taafe, 81, of New Castle passed away peacefully surrounded by her children and family Tuesday evening, December 24, 2019, in UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh. Mrs. Taafe was born April 11, 1938, in New Castle, a daughter of Harold and Beatrice (Kehrer) Gerst. Her beloved husband of 54 years, Richard L. “Dick” Taafe, Jr., whom she married January 30, 1960, preceded her in death March 4, 2014.

Rocco Romeo, Jr., 83, formerly of Hillsville, passed away the morning of December 24, 2019 at his residence in Campbell, Ohio, surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 23, 1936 in Hillsville, Pa he was the son of the late Rocco Romeo, Sr. and Jennie Feo Romeo. On September 17, 1960 Rocco married his beloved wife the former Mary Jane Tarnoci. She preceded him in death on August 26, 2010, but they are now together again.

Donald R. Piccirillo, 88, of West Clayton Street, Mahoningtown, died Saturday December 21, 2019 at Quality Life Services, New Castle. He was born in New Castle on April 5, 1931, the son of the late Pasquale and Raffaella (DiBenedetto) Piccirillo. He married Donna (Cardella) Piccirillo in 1952, she survives in New Castle.

Lena Ann Fiacco, 91, of West Clayton Street, Mahoningtown, died Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Quality Life Services, New Castle. She was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania on July 7, 1928 a daughter of the late Albert and Jennie (Tooch) Fiacco.

Ronald J. Duda, Sr., 84, of Willowhurst Circle, died Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Carriage Manor Nursing Home. He was born in New Castle on April 22, 1935 a son of the late Stephen M. and Mollie E. (Piatek) Duda. He was married to Carol L. (Shenker) Duda on October 13, 1956, she survives in New Castle.

Elvira Francazio, 82, of New Wilmington, PA, formerly of New Castle, passed away the morning of December 18, 2019 at UPMC Jameson Hospital after she valiantly fought Systemic Lupus for seventeen years. Elvira was born on November 1, 1937 in New Castle to Italian immigrants, Orsolina Pezone Francazio and Eustachio Francazio. She was very proud of her Italian heritage.

Marie A. Sfara, 82, of Hillsville passed away the afternoon of December 16, 2019 at Select Specialty Hospital in Youngstown, OH. Born on August 7, 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio she was the daughter of the late Patsy J. and Mary Burner DeCerbo.On April 28, 1956 she married her beloved husband, Michael J. Sfara. He survives at home.

Jamesa (Jaye) L. Bovo Presnar 70, of New Castle, passed away the afternoon of December 17, 2019 at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh with her son, sister and brother by her side. Born July 30, 1949 in New Castle, she was the daughter of the late James L. and Betty J. Bovo. Jamesa was married to the late Stanley A. Presnar for 38 years. He preceded her in death on February 4, 2019.

Rose Marie Effinite, 87, of Union Township passed away the evening of December 15, 2019 at her residence. Born on November 23, 1932 in New Castle, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Anna Marie Catalano DeMase. On May 1, 1954, Rose Marie married her beloved husband, Thomas O. Effinite. He preceded her in death on October 21, 2017.

In a few days, we will be celebrating the great feast of Christmas. Please allow me to extend to all of you a very joyous and blessed Christmas with your family and friends. For your convenience, the Christmas Mass schedule is posted on today’s cover, as well as the schedule for the Solemnity of Mary, a holy day, on January 1, 2020.

Connie Louise (Powell) Hannon, 82, of New Castle passed away on Dec. 11, 2019, at home, surrounded by loved ones, after battling a chronic disease. Born on June 21, 1937, in New Castle, she was a daughter of the late Jessie Rendziniak.

Richard W. Hunt Sr., 84 of New Castle passed away the afternoon of December 11, 2019 at UPMC Jameson. Born on August 15, 1935 in Harlansburg, Pa., he was the son of the late Harold and Lucille Magee Hunt. On July 17, 1954, Richard married his beloved wife, the former Frances A. “Frenchie” Perrotta. She preceded him in death on April 25, 2014.

On this third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate the joy that comes from knowing Christ as Emmanuel, God with us. Christmas is approaching very quickly and the knowledge that God loves us so much He desired to become one of his creatures that inspires great joy in our hearts.

Mary Jane Havranek, 92, of New Castle passed away the evening of December 10, 2019 at her residence on Clen-Moore Blvd. Born in Rochester, PA on September 7, 1927, Mary Jane was the daughter of the late Louis and Louise Princhinello Spagnola. Preceding her in death on July 24, 2005 is her husband, John F. (Whitey) Havranek, whom she married on May 14, 1949.

Alba A. Geraneo, 95, formerly of Mahoningtown, passed away the afternoon of December 9, 2019 at Quality Life Service of New Castle surrounded by her loving family. Born in New Castle on November 21, 1924, Alba was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Florence Donofrio Lombardo. She is survived by her loving husband of over sixty one years, Gennaro Geraneo, whom she married on January 11, 1958.

Joseph Anthony Orlando, Jr., 56, of New Castle passed away at his residence on December 7, 2019. Born on February 23, 1963 in New Castle he was the son of Joseph A. Orlando, Sr. who survives in New Castle. His mother, Rita Mae (VonFeldt) Orlando preceded him in death.

Nick A. Russo, Jr., 92, of Shenango Township passed away the afternoon of December 2, 2019 at Quality Life Services of New Castle. Born on May 12, 1927 in New Castle he was the son of the late Nicola Russo, Sr. and Christina Cenname Russo. Nick married his beloved wife, the former Jennie Morgan, who after fifty-eight years of marriage preceded him in death on June 8, 2007.

Genevieve (Genowefa) Kusnierz, 90, formerly of New Castle, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2019, at Elmcroft Senior Living, Exeter, PA.She was the wife of late husband, John Kusnierz, and mother of late son, Bogdan Kusnierz. Born in Miejsce, Poland, she was the daughter of the late Katarzyna (Szmyd) and Jan Sznajder.

Robert J. “Bob” Navolio, Jr., 52, of Ford City, PA, formerly of Ellwood City and New Castle, passed away peacefully Friday evening, November 29, 2019, in his residence. Mr. Navolio was born December 28, 1966, in New Castle, a son of Robert and Janet (Quinn) Navolio, Sr., and later graduated from Natrona Heights Highlands High School in 1985.