Mary Ann Toia

On Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at 3:24 P.M. Mary Ann Toia of Lynnwood (Belle Vernon), was called home to be with the Lord. She was the former Mary Ann Sowko of Monessen. Born September 21, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Julia Lenio Sowko. She had 1 sister, Matilda Sowko Stimmel, who survives and resides in Bethel Park. Mary Ann Married Alexander Toia of N. Belle Vernon on August 7, 1954. They celebrated their 50th anniversary this past August with family and friends. She was a 1947 graduate of Monessen High School and a 1951 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where she studied pharmacy. She served the Mon Valley communities as a pharmacist for over 40 years working at Fee's Pharmacy in Fayette City, Fee's Pharmacy in Charleroi (originally Fogel's Pharmacy), the Medicine Shoppe in Monessen and the Centerville Clinic, among others. Mary Ann also worked very hard to support her husband Alex in his income tax preparation business. After retiring in 1992, she enjoyed spending time with her family, including her oldest son, Thomas Toia and his wife Cindy Hufford of North Huntingdon, younger son Greggory Toia and Susan and children, Joshua and Greggory Alexander of Belle Vernon, and her daughter Lee Ann McDowell and husband Timothy and her third newborn grandson, Samuel Alexander of Churchill. Mary Ann was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters of America and a long time member of the local Civic Club. She also loved playing bridge with her Tuesday night bridge club, to which she belonged for over 30 years. Mary Ann will be missed by her family and friends and will always be remembered by her selfless giving character which is a characteristic of a true Christian. We will look forward to seeing her one day again in Heaven. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 P.M. Thursday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Friday in the Ferguson Funeral Home, Inc. and Cremation Service, a Golden Rule Member Firm, 724-929-5300, 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. A blessing service will be in the funeral home on Saturday followed by funeral mass at 10:30 A.M. in St. Sebastian R.C. Church. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed in the funeral home Friday at 3 P.M. led by members of St. Sebastian Parish.

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Mary Ann Toia

February 16, 2005