Jeannette Hertzog
Jeannette D. Hertzog, 83, of Butler, passed away with much love in her heart to our Lord and Savior on Aug. 30, 2021, at Concordia in Cabot.
Jeannette Dorothy Ballon was born on Feb. 28, 1938, to Dominica Margaret Colossi and John Ballon at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was the second of two daughters, the first being her sister, Sophia.
John Ballon passed away shortly after, but the two girls and their mother flourished. They walked from the North Side area across the 6th Street Bridge to Market Square once a month, because during World War II, they could only afford transportation one way. They shopped for fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, and shared fried white fish or clams at the Original Oyster House. Then they gathered their packages and boarded a bus for home.
Jeannette learned to can tomato sauce, make fried eggplant, and even dandelion wine from her mother, aunts and uncles.
A few years passed, and Anthony Demeo began courting Margaret. They were married, and he provided for the entire family through his employment at Mine Safety Appliance in East Liberty, and as a barber at Norwin Shopping Center.
The family moved to North Huntingdon, where Jeannette attended Irwin High School. Jeannette was an honor student, a vocalist, and played bass, cello and the tuba. Jeannette was accepted for initial interview at the esteemed Juilliard School of Music, but declined as she married her high school sweetheart, Jack Hertzog, after he returned from service in the 82nd Airborne Infantry. Around 1958, they moved to McHenry, Ill., following his transfer as a manager of a food store. They had one son, and soon moved back to Western Pennsylvania to a small row apartment in Circleville. Jeannette, learning how to save from her mother, walked with her son from the small home through fields and a graveyard to Norwin Shopping Center once a month to gather food supplies at the A&P store and clothes at Cox's Clothing store. Jeannette would then call a cab as there was no bus that traveled back home to carry the two of them and their packages. Jeannette began work as a legal secretary at the Westmoreland County District attorney's office, and her mother became a tipstaff there as well. Jeannette then worked at the domestic relations office and the Clerk of Courts in Butler County, and later took retirement. She moved to Sunbury Fields and then, for the last six years, at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot.
Jeannette belonged to St. Andrew Catholic Church.
She was a Steelers fan through and through, even talking about the last two preseason games with her family.
In her 50s, Jeannette beat breast cancer, and continued working right through it. She was available at the drop of a hat to care for her two young grandsons. She had a few special friends, and kept well in contact with her sister and many nieces and nephews through the years.
Jeannette is survived by her son, John, and her daughter-in-law, Leigh Ann; her two beloved grandsons, Joseph (Mark Klinger) of Philadelphia, and Jerald of Chicago; her nephew, Lee Lennon, who visited often, made time for her and kept her in great spirits; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joseph and Margaret “Peg” Hertzog, to whom she had a long, abiding affection; and many other nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Sophia “Tootsie”; her parents; her husband, Jack; her stepfather, Anthony Demeo; and her grandson, James.
Jeannette knew the value of a family meal together, some lasagna, artichokes, bruschetta and anything from Delallo's Italian Store. She reveled in the volume, turmoil and mess that was a large family meal, and truly appreciated the love therein. She will be missed.
HERTZOG — Visitation for Jeannette D. Hertzog, who died Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Young Funeral Home, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew Catholic Church.
Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to her grandson Joseph's church, Redemption Lutheran Church, 8001 Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19152.
For more information, go to www.youngfuneralhomes.com.
