Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday for Robert H. Merat, 456 Jefferson Avenue, Sharon. He passed away at 7:40 p.m. on Saturday (9-26-09) in his home surrounded by his family after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. He was 72.
Robert was born December 15, 1936 in Sharpsville, the son of Thomas A. and Margeret C. Hether Merat.
A lifelong area resident, he graduated from Hickory High School in 1955 and went to work for the Sharon Tube Co. and then Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. where he was the welder in charge of the open hearth. In 1978 he went to work for Shenango, Inc., Sharpsville, where he was a post mill operator until he retired in 1992.
He was a member of St. Joseph Church, Sharon.
Robert loved the outdoors and he enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening . Throughout his life he was involved with Patagonia Little League where he played baseball in his youth and later helping the league as the president, manager, coach and umpire. He also enjoyed watching the Sharon Tigers where he was also a member of the Boosters, and avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
His wife, the former Esther A. Wedge, whom he married December 28, 1974, survives at home.
He is also survived by two daughters, Brenda A. Danilovics and her husband George, West Middlesex, Diane M. Woge and her husband Tim, Hermitage; five sons, Robert D. Merat, Sharon, Charles W. Johnson, Masury, OH, Bradley R. Johnson and his companion Helena Walter Sharon, Brian S. Johnson and his wife Jamie, Pittsburgh, Anthony M. Johnson and his wife Lisa, Clark, three sisters, Margaret 'Margie' Laverty and her husband Thomas, Farrell, Rilla Svirbly, Sharon, Jean DeGerolamo, Farrell; 15 grandchildren, 4 whom he reared, Angela Carroll and her husband Bradley, Nicole Anderson and her husband Michael, Jamie L. Johnson and Brenda R. Johnson. Also, George and Brian Danilovics, Kristi Monaco and husband Jonathan, Jason Woge, Amber and Tiffani Johnson, Jenna and Brian Johnson II, Brittany, Chelsey, and Bradley Johnson II; 4 great grandchildren, Bryce and Seth Carroll, Kaleb Anderson and Andrew Monaco.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Mary E. Thompson Merat and a brother Thomas E. Merat.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Sharon Regional Hospice and Palliative Care, 2320 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16146
Calling hours: 5 to 8 on Wednesday (9-30-09) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State Street, Sharon.
Condolences may be sent to our website at www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com
Services: Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10: 00 a.m. on Thursday (10-1-09) in St. Joseph's Church, 79 Case Ave. Sharon, with Rev. Glenn R. Whitman, pastor as celebrant.
Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, Hermitage.