Mona Faye Parsons
Mona Faye Parsons, 89, passed away peacefully Wednesday after a long illness.
She was born and raised in New Kensington, Pa. It was there that she met Robert A. Parsons, who she married in 1945 in San Francisco, while Bob was serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II. Bob and Mona lived in San Francisco until after the war. Bob's work as an electrical engineer took them to Kittanning, where their oldest son, Daniel, was born, then to Cleveland, where Robert was born, and finally, to Butler, where Andrew and Susan were born. They made their home in Butler for more than 50 years.
Mona was a devoted homemaker when her children were young. In the 1970s, she pursued a nursing degree at BC3. She was so thrilled and proud to become a registered nurse and loved working in a variety of nursing settings. Mona was part of the first nursing staff at Butler Hospital's drug and alcohol unit. It was there she realized her passion for psychiatric nursing and continued on that path, working many years at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh in the eating disorder unit. Even after her retirement in 1994, Mona continued to do volunteer work in therapy groups in Butler.
A tireless champion for anyone in need, Mona was dedicated to her volunteer work with Meals on Wheels where she served on the board of directors for many years, the Food Cupboard and the Community Health Clinic.
In addition to her volunteer work, Mona also loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling nationally and internationally, attending church each week at First English Lutheran Church, doing water aerobics and yoga at the Y, and Silver Sneakers adult exercise classes at the senior center.
For those lucky enough to know and love Mona, she will always be remembered for her kindness, tremendous generosity, fantastic listening skills and insight, unquenchable optimism, fierce independence, extraordinary strength in mind and spirit, deep love of family and friends, and for having the best, most infectious laugh.
Mona leaves behind to cherish her memory her son, Andrew (Ann) Parsons; her daughter, Susan Parsons; her grandchildren, Anna and Max Spears, Will Parsons and Carson Bentley; and her great-grandchildren, Jackson, Aiden and Mae Widing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Delmar and Anna Halaja Alberts; her beloved husband, Robert A. Parsons; her treasured sons, Daniel A. and Robert W. Parsons; and her brother, Charles Dale Alberts.
PARSONS — A memorial service for Mona Faye Parsons, who died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 14 at the First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St., Butler, with the Rev. Kimberly van Driel, pastor, officiating.If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Mona's honor to the VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001, or the Community Health Clinic of Butler County, 103 Bonnie Drive, Butler, PA 16002.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Boylan Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Connoquenessing Township, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.
