Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Christmas Eve for Carmela Masello Rossi, 704 N. State Line Rd., Masury, who passed away peacefully on Monday (12-21-09) at 1:37 a.m. in Sharon Regional Health System following an extended illness. She was 80.

Carmela was born on November 21, 1929 in San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Italy, the daughter of Matteo Antonio and Maria Lovisco Masello. At the age of 4 ½, Carmela traveled to the United States and arrived in Sharon, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1934, with her mother and siblings to join her father for a new life in America, although throughout her life she maintained great pride in her Italian heritage.

At the age of 13, Carmela began working part time at Sharon Poultry on Water Street and at the age of 16 started working part time during Christmas at GC Murphy Co. Carmela attended Sharon schools graduating in 1948. After high school she worked at Westinghouse Electric and later was employed at the Factory Stores at Sharon Steel Corporation where she met her future husband, Peter Angelo Rossi, whom she married on October 2, 1954. She returned to Westinghouse for 2 more years until her employment ended due to pregnancy with her first daughter. In 1981, Carmela returned to Italy with her mother Maria to celebrate reuniting the family in Orneta for the first time in nearly 50 years.

After many years as a wife and mother, she returned to work as a receptionist at her daughter's beauty salon, Hair Designs on Jefferson Avenue, retiring when her husband retired in 1991 to travel abroad and enjoy life.

Carmela was a life-long member of Sacred Heart Church, volunteering as a money counter and worked on various committees such as card parties, Fall Festivals and spaghetti dinners. She was a 40 year member of the Laugh-A-Lot Card Club, a 25 year member of the Wednesday Morning Bowlerettes at Sunset Lanes in Farrell and was also an avid Cleveland Browns fan who loved flowers, reading and especially baking for her family and friends.

Carmela is survived by two daughter Mary Christine Rubano and her husband Dennis, Brookfield, Ohio, Patricia Rossi of Masury and Kennedy Township, PA, and 3 grandchildren, Olivia, Dominic and Mia Rubano. Additionally, she leaves nieces Mary Lou Masello and Reenie Hockett, nephews Michael, Richard, Anthony and Patrick Masello, sisters in law, Mary Lou Masello, and Nellie Vasconi, brothers in law, Joe and Sam Rossi, several cousins in Italy and a sponsored child, Evelyn Quito, residing in the Philippines.

Carmela was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Peter A. Rossi on June 9, 1999, her parents Maria & Matteo Masello, 3 brothers, Pasquale, Michael and Alfred Masello and her niece Mary Jane Ricciardi. Carmela will be truly missed and remembered as a loving, caring and encouraging mother, wife, aunt and friend.

Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday (12-23-09) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon. Condolences may be sent by visiting the web site www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com Services:

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday (12-24-09) at 10:00 a.m. in the Church of the Sacred Heart with Rev. Henry C. Andae pastor as the celebrant.

Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage.