John 'Father John' Kurdilla

March 22, 1929 - June 18, 2014

John 'Father John' Kurdilla, 85, of Rostraver Twp passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 with his family by his side. He was born in Monessen on March 22, 1929, a son of the late Steven and Mary Matzek Kurdilla. He was a 1949 graduate of Monessen High School. John was a veteran of the US Army and served in the Korean War. John was honorably discharged as SFC. He was employed as an electrician and retired from Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel in Monessen. John was a member of the VFW, Sokol Club, and Sons of Italy in Perryopolis. He was Russian orthodox by faith. He was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Verna Mae Trozzo Kurdilla. He is survived by his children, Marion (Paul) Schroeter of Jacksonville Fl, Kathleen Kurdilla of Fairfax, Va, Diann Samoda of Rostraver Twp, Ruth (Dan) Sepesky of Rostraver Twp and Steven Kurdilla of Belle Vernon, PA. He is also survived by one sister, Eva Schippacasse of Centerline MI, and a sister – in – law, Roseann Kurdilla of Belle Vernon, PA. He has seven grandchildren: Heather (Devon) Moody, Jennifer Samoda, Corey and Shauna Mikulewicz, Derek Kurdilla, and Sarah and Jacob Sepesky. He has a great granddaughter, Elsie Moody. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Verna Mae Trozzo Kurdilla, two brothers, Frank and Michael Kurdilla and two sisters Annabelle Edwards and Marion Kurdilla. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Friday, June 20 in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. , 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. (724) 929-5300. A funeral service will be in the funeral home at 10 A.M. Saturday with Pastor Jim Watts officiating. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery with military honors.