Josephine Direnzo McLaren, 1823 Farrell Terrace, Farrell, passed away peacefully in her home at 12:14 p.m. Wednesday (12-23-09) surrounded by loved ones, after an extended illness. She was 72 years old.

Josephine was born April 19, 1937 in Farrell to Antonio and Anna Costanza Direnzo.

A lifelong city resident, she was a 1959 graduate of Farrell High School where she participated as a Majorette, and remained a loyal supporter of Farrell and its sports teams all her life.

After graduation, she worked at the former Sharon Transformer division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation and the former Schuster's Restaurant in Masury; and for 30 years at the General Motors/Packard Electric plant, Warren, Ohio, retiring in 1997.

Josephine was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann's Church, Farrell, where she was a member of the Alter Rosary Society. She was also a member of the Farrell Alumni Association and Packard Electric Retirees.

Affectionately known as 'Josie', 'Grandma Jo', or 'Nunnie', even to the friends of her grandchildren, she was supportive and actively involved in her grandchildren's school and extracurricular interests. She was a grandparent volunteer at St. Joseph's School, Sharon. Her greatest joy was her family and large circle of friends. She will be greatly missed by all.

She is survived by her two sons, John Jelinek and his wife Lisa, Hermitage, and Anthony Hnida and his wife Kim, of Farrell, her daughter, Deborah (Jelinek) Nevant and her husband James, with whom she made her home; and her four grandchildren, Max Jelinek, Gabrielle and Carmen Nevant, and Antonio Hnida, all Farrell. She was also survived by two sisters in law, Marge Direnzo, Sharon, and Marge Direnzo, New Castle; four stepchildren, Jeanne Rotunno and her husband Dan, Hermitage, William Hnida and his wife Sara, Linesville, Pa., Mary Lou Cook and her husband John, Antioch, Ill., and Kathleen Matejka and her husband Rick, Sharpsville, and many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, Dominic and Anthony Direnzo, and a sister Concetta Jean Direnzo.

Calling hours: 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday (12-27-09) and from 9 until 9:45 a.m. Monday (12-28-09) in the J .Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon. A Rosary will be recited on Sunday at 2:45 a.m.

Condolences may be sent by visiting the web site www.FuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Services: Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday (12-28-09) at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Donald E. Berdis, pastor, as celebrant. There will be a brief prayer service at 9:45 a.m. in the funeral home prior to leaving for the church.

Interment: St. Anthony's Cemetery, Hermitage.