Buffone

James N. Buffone, Sr., 95, formerly of Butler and Yatesboro, died Thursday evening, at Sunnyview Home.

Born in Beyer, he was the son of Philip and Theresa Yanni Buffone.

Mr. Buffone was a retired brick mason after working 23 years for the Haws Refractories, a brick manufacturing company that had been located north of Kittanning. Prior to that he had been a deep coal miner in the Western Pennsylvania area for about 28 years, and had worked for two years at American Bridge Steel Company in Ambridge.

A veteran of World War II, he had served with the Army's 7th Armored Division and was held captive in Germany for six months as a prisoner of war from December 1944 to May 1945.

He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Butler and a life member of both the Sagamore VFW Post 6555 and the Rural Valley Post 523 of the American Legion. He also belonged to the Latin American Club in Ford City; and had formerly been a member of the NuMine, Yatesboro and Ford City Sportsmen's clubs.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary Ann Talleri Buffone, whom he married Aug. 26, 1950, and who died June 3, 2004.

Surviving are two sons, James N. Buffone, Jr. of Reno, Nev., and Martin J. Buffone of Dayton, Pa.; two daughters, Mrs. Thomas (Loretta Ann) Cerja and Rose Anne O'Donnell, both of Butler; two brothers, Sam Buffone of Rural Valley and Philip Buffone of Ford City; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

<B>BUFFONE</B> — Friends of James N. Buffone Sr., who died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at <B>GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Interment will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Yatesboro, Armstrong County.St. Paul's Guild and Christian Mother's will recite the Rosary at 12:40 p.m. Monday, prior to the funeral Mass at the church.Additional information can be found at www.geibelfuneralhome.com