Phyllis Lenore Bertoncello
Phyllis Lenore Bertoncello, 92, of Slippery Rock passed away at 8:18 a.m. Wednesday at Grove City Medical Center.
She was born in Donora, Carroll Township, Washington County, on June 27, 1920, to Phillip Lee Fine and Margaret Dolores Wilson.
She married John Joseph “Jack” Bertoncello on Sept. 27, 1940, and he died March 16, 1989.
Phyllis attended Donora High School through the 11th grade and graduated from West Sunbury High School in 1938. She became a licensed practical nurse at Bashline-Rossman Hospital, later Bashline Hospital in Grove City, and worked there as a nurse from 1950 until 1966. She was a Brownies and Girl Scout troop leader in the Slippery Rock area for several years.
Phyllis loved to knit and would send countless hand-knitted hats and scarves to the St. Labre Indian School and the Christian Appalachian Project. Her children and grandchildren were also welcome recipients of many of her hand-knitted wares.
She was an avid card player and with her husband, Jack, hosted weekly card games with friends and family. Phyllis and her husband traveled extensively throughout the United States and upon his retirement they purchased a home in Frostproof, Fla., where she spent winters for 30 years. Following her husband's death, she continued traveling the U.S. with her daughter, Dolores.
Surviving are three daughters, Barbara L. Sloan of Eau Claire, Dianne L. Claypoole (Dennis) of Grove City and Jody L. Bertoncello-Young (Christopher) of Slippery Rock; and one sister, Margaret Blythe of New Philadelphia, Ohio.
Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, Leigh Cassedy of Springfield, Va., John Grannie (Dana) of Plantation, Fla., Tarri Hudson of Lantana, Fla., Shari Hudson of Boynton Beach, Fla., Deborah Trinidad (Eddy) of Martinsburg, W.Va., Melissa Brewer (Creighton) of Eau Claire, Mechelle Sloan of Eau Claire, Dennis Michael Sloan of Eau Claire, Stephen Sloan (Constance) of Warren, Ohio, Terry Claypoole of Frostproof, Fla., Jamie Bromley (Michael) of Slippery Rock and Joshua Bertoncello of Slippery Rock; eight great-grandchildren, Jeffrey Cassedy, Madeleine Cassedy, Nicole Rae Grannie, Christina Grannie, Samuel Brewer, Sally Brewer, Westen Bromley and Reese Bromley; three step-great-grandchildren, Chanelly Trinidad, Rachel Trinidad and Justin Trinidad; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Dolores Hudson; three brothers, Robert, Vernon and Phillip; an infant twin sister; and son-in-law, Dennis Sloan.
BERTONCELLO — Private funeral services for the family and extended family of Phyllis Lenore Bertoncello, who passed away Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, will be observed at the SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock, at 2 p.m. Sunday.Family will be received at the funeral home from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. James Lewis, pastor of the West Liberty United Methodist Church, will officiate. Interment will be in Greenlawn Estates, Mt. Chestnut, Pa.Memorial contributions may be given to St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, MT 59004, www.stlabre.org or to the Christian Appalachian Project, P.O. Box 55911, Lexington, KY 40555-5911.
