Pearl Serban Petcu, Nashville, TN; formerly of Orchard St., Sharon, passed away Saturday (8-14-10) in Nashville. She was 87.

Mrs. Petcu was born March 1, 1923 in Sharon a daughter of the late George and Sophie Maier Serban.

She was a 1941 Alumna of Sharon High School where she was a member of the debate team and attended Youngstown State University.

Prior to her marriage, she was employed at the former Carnegie Steel (later known as Sharon Steel) and the former Sharon Transformer Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation.

Her husband, Julius Petcu, whom she married July 26, 1953, passed away Jan. 30, 1987.

A homemaker, Pearl was an active member of Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church, Hermitage, where she sang in the choir, was a Sunday school teacher and served as the church treasurer. She was also very active in the American Romanian Orthodox Youth (A.R.O.Y.) organization on a local and national level. A.R.O.Y. was founded by the late Father Nicolae Moldovan. She was one of the first delegates to this national youth organization and served as its first secretary. She attended and taught at the 'Vatra', the National Headquarters of her Episcopate. Pearl loved her church and was very generous with her time and talents. She volunteered for the American Red Cross; the Girl Scouts; and was a longtime leader with the Boy Scouts.

She enjoyed her hobbies of baking, crocheting, reading and being in the company of family and friends.

She is the beloved mother of two sons, Dr. Louis Petcu and his wife Dr. Nancy Westerman, Longmeadow, MA; and Dr. David Petcu and his wife Julie, Nashville, TN; five grandchildren, Elizabeth and Alex of Longmeadow, MA; and Anna, Timothy and Michael of Nashville, TN; and two sisters, Minerva (Maier) Rosian and Ann (Serban) Gerwing, both Hermitage.

Besides her parents and husband, Pearl was preceded in death by two brothers, infant George Serban of Sharon and Leo Serban of Masury, OH; three sisters, Sophie (Serban) Orashan of Salem, OH; Aurelia (Maier) Trombitas of Farrell; and Mary (Serban) Cole of Sharpsville.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church, 950 Maple Dr., Hermitage, PA 16148.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday (8-19-10) in Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church, Hermitage, with Monsignor Michael Polanichka, pastor of St. John's Carpathian-Russian Orthodox Church, Sharon, officiating.

Family will receive friends one hour before the service in the church.

Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Interment: St. John's Cemetery, Hermitage. Arrangements by J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.