Mariotti

Mario J. "Jeep" Mariotti, 84, of Butler died at 12:14 a.m. Thursday at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Butler, May 8, 1924, he was the son of the late Joseph and Ida Orsueci Mariotti.

He graduated from the St. Michael Parochial School in 1937 and from Butler High School in 1941.

Mario worked at Pittsburgh Steel Drum and at American Mirror Works, and he was employed for 37 years at Armco.

He was a lifelong member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. He belonged to the Italian Society of Butler, and he was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 249 and the American Legion Post 778.

Mario served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 37th Infantry Division in Bouganville, Solomon Islands; and he participated in the invasion of Luzon, Philippine Islands. It was during the latter invasion he received the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in connection with military operations. He also received the Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star and the World War II Victory Medal.

He is survived by two sons, Joseph Mariotti and his wife, Charity, of Butler and Ralph Mariotti of Butler; two daughters, Ida Mariotti of Butler and Lucy Malis and her husband, Jim, of Butler; one grandson, Jay Mariotti and his wife, Shelly, of Butler; one great-granddaughter, Gianna Mariotti of Butler; one sister, Dena Cetti of Butler; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Antonette Cherry Mariotti, who he married April 12, 1947. She passed away April 14, 2005. He also was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

<B>MARIOTTI</B> Friends of Mario J. "Jeep" Mariotti, who died Thursday, April 16, 2009, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the <B>Martin Funeral Home</B>, 429 Center Ave., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Father James Dolan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the St. Michael Cemetery.The Bereavement Group of St. Michael the Archangel Parish will meet at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home to conduct a scriptural wake service.Memorial donations may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, with designation for the Ladies of Charity, 432 Center Ave., Butler, PA 16001. Kindly request acknowledgments be sent to the Mariotti Family, P.O. Box 368, Lyndora, PA 16045.Information also is available at www.martinfh.net.