Laura Scarnati Grindel

Laura Scarnati Grindel of Butler passed away Monday at home after a lengthy illness.

She was raised in Brockway, Pa., the daughter of Pasquale Scarnati and Elvira Caruso Scarnati in a family of 10 children.

Laura served her country during World War II in the Coast Guard. After several years, she transferred to the Army, graduating in the second class of U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She trained at the Army General Hospital, now known as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., then was transferred to the VA Hospital in Butler, where she met her future husband, Norbert “Red” Grindel.

After the Korean War and Red's discharge from the National Guard, they returned to Prospect to start their family.

Laura worked as a private duty registered nurse until her children were all in school, then she worked at Butler Memorial Hospital until she retired. She is listed on the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Laura believed in a strong family and she enjoyed cooking, feeding anyone who came into her home, and caring for her family. She was happiest when she was surrounded by all of her children and their families. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin and aunt, she will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.

She was a lifelong Catholic and a member of Saint Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler.

Laura is survived by her six children, Susan Grindel of Mobile, Ala., Stephen Grindel of Taylor, S.C., Barbara Purdum and her husband, Jim, of Port Matilda, Pa., David Grindel and his wife, Cindy, of Pittsburgh, Karen Attanasio and her husband, Michael, of Shavertown, Pa., and Daniel Grindel of St. Louis, Mo.

She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and was anxiously awaiting the birth of two great-grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Norbert George “Red” Grindel; her parents, Pasquale Scarnati and Elvira Caruso Scarnati; her sisters Anna Scarnati (Brockway, Pa.), Angela Scarnati Castiglione (Pittsburgh), Mary Bernadette Scarnati (Brockway, Pa.), and Edith Scarnati Buryk (Orlando, Fla.); and her brothers, William “Bill” Scarnati (Brockway, Pa.), Orlando Scarnati (Pittsburgh), Alfred Scarnati (Pittsburgh), James (Jim) Scarnati (Pittsburgh) and Francis Scarnati (Brockway, Pa.).

GRINDEL — Friends of Laura Scarnati Grindel, who died Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Martin Funeral Home, 429 Center Ave.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Calvary Cemetery.Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the VFW Post 249 of Butler and the American Legion Post 778 of Lyndora.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 North McKean St., Butler, PA 16001 and/or the March of Dimes in the name of Laura's granddaughter, Lena Purdum.The Saint Paul Catholic Women and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:35 a.m. Saturday at the church to recite the rosary.For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.