Local artist Tom Panei has restored three crucifix statues for two churches in the area over the past few weeks.

The statues are three, five and six feet in height. The small statue is being restored for an individual customer. The medium-sized crucifix is made of wood, and being fixed after it was knocked over in a vehicle accident at St. Peter Catholic Church in Slippery Rock in August, and the large one is from St. Gertrude's Parish in Vandergrift.

Panei, who also is a denture fabricator, said he is hoping to finish the projects by Christmas. Each has extensive damage and all are more than 50 to 100 years old.

“This is different than working on a fisherman statue,” Panei said. “You don't want to mess it up. You're in awe of what you have to do to make it look good.”

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