Mary Rose Bongiorno, 80, of Monessen, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 in Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh. She was born in Monessen on July 8, 1927, the daughter of the late Anthony F. and Angeline Reda Mandarino. Mrs. Bongiorno was a life long resident of Monessen, a 1944 graduate of Monessen High School, and attended Seton Hill and California State College. She was a member of Epiphany of Our Lord R. C. Church and its choir, Epiphany Ladies, C.D. of A., Catholic B.P.W., the former St. Cajetan Rosary Altar Society and Christian Mothers, Italian-American Heritage Society, Friends of Monessen Public Library, and Salvation Army. She was also a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, a Lifeline volunteer, and a volunteer at the Monessen Elementary Center and the former Monessen Catholic School. Mary was known for giving of her time and talents, and she will continue to give of herself as a donor through the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE). She will also be remembered for her congratulatory poster blessings; that many have received over the years. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Phillip A. and Lisa Bongiorno of Woodbrigde, VA, nine daughters and sons-in-law, Anne Marie and Terry Tom of Monessen, Pegi and Greg Guzzie of Monessen, Patti Cassidy of Lafayette, IN, Teri and Raoul Jeanmenne of Peoria, IL, Angie and John Lulack of Colorado Springs, CO, Betty and Mike Kuvinka of Salisbury, NC, Mary Jo and Ron Kunsa of Gonzales, LA, Christine and George Mermigas of Baton Rouge, LA, Michelle and Glen Labatut of Port Allen, LA, two sisters and a brother-in-law, Josephine and Bill Harvey of Ruffsdale, Betty L. Manderino of Monessen, two sisters-in-law, Bessie Sutch of Charleroi, Sara Osiol of Donora, twenty five grandchildren, Angel Helmantoler, Anthony Tom and wife Sherry, T.J. and Marcie Tom, Billy Guzzie and wife Nikki, Bryan and Laura Guzzie, Tony and Mike Jeanmenne, Alex, George, and Nadia Lulack, Michael and Michelle Kuvinka, Emily and Phillip Kunsa, Samantha, Meredith, and Allison Mermigas, Alexandra and Phillip Bongiorno, Joseph, Luke, Benjamin, and Andrew Labatut, ten great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Phillip T. Bongiorno, and by three brothers, Louis L., James J., and Robert A. Mandarino. Friends will be received on Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Dalfonso-Billick Funeral Home, Inc.441 Reed Avenue Monessen, (724-684-8750). Services will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2007, beginning with a 11:30 a.m. Blessing in the funeral home, followed by a 12 noon Funeral Mass in Epiphany of Our Lord R. C. Church. Interment will follow in Mon. Valley Memorial Park, Donora. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be made to Friends of the Monessen Public Library, 326 Donner Ave. Monessen, PA 15062. The Catholic B.P.W., C.D. of A., and Epiphany Ladies will conduct a prayer service on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
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