Rose Butera
Avid gardener

Rose E. (Giambattista) Butera, four months shy of 90, a Moon Township resident most of her life, passed away on Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Sycamore Creek Nursing Center.

She was born in Rumford, Maine, on Aug. 21, 1918, a daughter of the late Carmine and Maria (Denallo) Giambattista.

On June 7, 1979, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 39 years, Anthony Butera.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her beloved grandson, Jeffrey Butera, brother, Pasquale Giambattista, sister-in-law, Mabel Batista, and brother-in-law Eddie DeSalvo.

Rose's life was centered on her family. She was a great cook and seamstress, not to mention her "green thumb" with both inside plants and her beautiful outside flower garden.

She was a faithful member of St. Margaret Mary Church.

She is survived by her three loving sons, James Butera and wife, Sis, of Neville Island, Charles Butera and wife, Donna, of Moon Township and Daniel Butera of Imperial; fivegrandchildren, Julie Gallagher and husband, Tony, Jennifer Edwards and husband, Kevin, Sandra Harding and husband, Avery, Brianna and Stacy Butera; one great-grandson: Travis Post; two sisters, Evelyn DeSalvo and Esther Pitassi and husband, Ettore, all of Coraopolis; two brothers, Pat Batiste and wife, Betty Lou, of Kennedy Township and Guido Batista of Neville Island.

Friends were received at Copeland's Moon Township Funeral Home, with prayer followed by Mass at St. Margaret Mary Church. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.

Joy Painter
Mother of two

Joy A. Painter, 57, a Moon Township resident for 11 years, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2008, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She spent her last days atthe Family Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Mt.Lebanon, surrounded by her loving familyand friends.

She was born in Pittsburgh on March 26, 1951, a daughter of the late David and Jeanne (Schweizer) Robinson.

She was a member of St. Margaret Mary Church.

Joy lovedentertaining friends and family,cooking,gardening and vacationsto Aruba.

She enjoyed working at Oxford Athletic Club and Spa until her illness caused her to retire. Sheloved sharing skin care tipsandother life lessons.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Gary Gogola; two loving children, January Joy Scheidlmeier and husband, Jason, of Shaler and Daniel Keitel ofBellevue; three sisters,Rebecca Spuhler of Bellevue, AnitaPoplowksiand husband, Tom,of Lincoln Place and Mary Martin and husband, Robert, of Florida; three brothers, Kenneth Robinson and wife, Bobette, of Pittsburgh, Robert Robinson of Pittsburgh and David Robinson Jr of Euclid, Ohio; three nieces, Melissa, Jennifer and Amanda; two great-nephews and two great-nieces;and her cat Rocky Road.

Friends were received at Copeland's Moon Township Funeral Home. Mass was held at St. Margaret Mary Church with the Rev. John Ayoob officiating.

Entombment was private at St. Joseph Cemetery

Amanda Prato
OLSH graduate

Amanda Jane (Ayers) Prato, 28, of Beechview, formerly of Hopewell, passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in Pittsburgh.

She was born in Sewickley on Oct.30, 1979 to Kathleen (McKee) of Hopewell and the late Kenneth Ayers.

Amanda attended Our Lady of Fatima School and graduated from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, class of 1998. For three years she had been working toward her bachelor's degree in special education at Carlow University.

She enjoyed helping others and had been working at Residential Care as a case counselor. She faithfully volunteered at National Association for The Mentally Ill.

Amanda was a beautiful person and had a special way about her.

She loved children, especially her niece and nephews, as well as all of her family. She also enjoyed the beach and vacations.

On Oct. 14, 2005, she married her beloved husband, Sgt Edward Prato, who is now serving in Iraq.

In addition to her mother and husband, she is survived by her sister, Megan Ayers, and husband Stephen Schott of Pittsburgh; her brother; PFC Marine Michael Ayers and wife Rachel of Daytona, Fla.; her niece and nephews: Odin Keim and twins Keena and Quinlin Schott; also many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and many dear friends.

Friends were received at Copeland's Moon Township Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial was at Our Lady of Fatima with the Rev. Howard Campbell officiating.

Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.

Thomas Spezialetti
Teamsters member

Thomas R. Spezialetti, 50, of Conway, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in The Medical Center, Beaver.

He was born April 6, 1958 in Kennedy Township, a son of Louis Spezialetti of Neville Township and the late Sally Hely Spezialetti.

Catholic by faith, he was a member of the Teamsters Local 273, Pittsburgh, and had worked for Matlack Trucking, Neville Island.

He was employed as a clerk for PLCB at the Northern Lights store and was past president of Conway Community League.

Surviving are his wife, Audrey Geary Spezialetti; a son, Thomas Spezialetti, at home, and his fiance, Christine Bigrig, Baden; a daughter, Stephanie Spezialetti, at home; a brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Maureen Spezialetti of Moon; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Chris and Tony Cortese and Patty and Don freed, all of Moon Township, numerous nieces and nephews and his special friend and loyal companion, T.J.

A prayer service was held in Poland Funeral Home Inc., Conway, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Conway.

Entombment followed in Resurrection Cemetery, Moon.