Sophia M. (DellaPenna) Duratz

Sophia M. DellaPenna Duratz, 81, of Grindstone, Pa., passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.  Sophia was born August 11, 1936 in Grindstone, PA, the daughter of Nunziato and Domenica (Giangulio) DellaPenna. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald “Doc” Duratz; sister-in-law, Betty Duratz; brother, Carmen “Carlo” DellaPenna; and two sisters, Julianna Aquilante and Josephine Novakowski. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, which were her children: Carla DellaPenna, Carl (Amy) DellaPenna, Ninette DellaPenna, and Vince (Pam) DellaPenna; great nieces and great nephews: Katie, Carl Jr., Christina (Andrew Cotton), Anthony and Caleb DellaPenna; nieces and nephews: Linda, Nick, and Ron Aquilante, Maria Novakowski Beisler, and Joseph and Daniel Novakowski; and a sister-in-law, Jeanne (DellaPenna) Bozek and her daughters Lisa Carney, Robin Cole, and Susan Kennedy. Sophia was employed as a Cashier and also Head Clerk at Del Farm Grocery Store, Foodland, and Washington Meat Market. She also worked as a Bank Teller for Gallatin Bank, Integra, National City and PNC Bank for many years. After retiring, she happily cared for many of her friends and elderly neighbors. She was a devoted member of Saint Cecilia Church in Grindstone where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, money counter, a member of The Christian Mothers and also the Rosary Confraternity. Her greatest joy was chairing and working tirelessly cooking for the Saint Cecilia spaghetti dinners. Aunt Sophia, as she was known by most, loved and cherished her family. Friends will be received at NOVAK FUNERAL HOME, 515 Front Street, Brownsville, Pa., Thursday, April 5, 2018 from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 6, 2018 from 2 to 8 PM and on Saturday, April 7, 2018 until 9:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Saint Cecilia Church on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Parish Rosary will be said in the funeral home Friday afternoon at 3:00.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Cecilia Church, Grindstone, PA 15442. The family thanks Sophia’s best friends for caring for her: Millie Shinsky, Marietta Allamon, Clara Medlock. The family also thanks the compassionate and professional staff at Beechwood Court who cared so passionately for Aunt Sophia. To sign the online Guest Book, visit www. novakfuneralhome.net

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