Tributes

Shirley M. Demko, 77, of Belle Vernon, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 2, 2009 in the Hallsworth House of Monessen. A daughter of the late Fred R. Clark, Sr. and Margaret Delansky Clark, she was born in N. Charleroi on December 4, 1931. Shirley was a member of the Pricedale Union Church, the Fayette City and Belle Vernon Golden Agers, the Sunday Evening Golf Club, the Bunco Club, the former Rostraver Business Association and had served on the board of the former Community Ambulance Service. She organized both the Desert Storm and Gulf War Victory parades and the Welcome Home celebration for the Korean War and Vietnam Veteran's Tribute. She was also a member and treasurer of both the Vernon Belles and Five Star Lioness Club, was the Queen Mother of the Gypsy Belle Gadabouts of the Red Hat Society, was an avid volunteer for the Marine Corp Toys for Tots program and was the recipient of numerous appreciation awards from veterans organizations and had received an award from the N.A.A.C.P.. Retiring in 1998, she was the co-owner and operator of the former Et Cetera Balloon and Crafts Store in N. Belle Vernon for 21 years. Survivors include her husband, John C. Demko, with whom she would have celebrated 60 years of marriage on October 28, 2009, three daughters and two sons-in-law, Marjorie and Joseph W. Lopez of Belle Vernon, Mary Ann Demko of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Joni Lee and Gordon Pavtis of Richmond, VA, one sister, Marjorie Apicerno of Enola, one brother and sister-in-law, Fred R. and Darla Clark, Jr. of Belle Vernon, five grandchildren, Frank and Kristy Lopez, Laura and Martin Lorenzo and Joseph A. Lopez, all of Belle Vernon, Jonathan Pavtis and Jordan Pavtis, both of Richmond, VA and four great-grandchildren, Vincenzo and Grace Lopez and Gianna and Tony Lorenzo. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Tuesday in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon, 724-929-5300, www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com. Funeral services will be in the funeral home Wednesday at 10 A.M. with Pastor James Mimidis officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. If friends wish, memorial donations may be made to the Pricedale Union Church.

Tributes

Shirley M. Demko

December 4, 1931 - August 2, 2009