Marsha B. Petrarca
Marsha B. Petrarca of Butler passed away Sunday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice.
She was born May 8, 1940, in Grove City to the late Nicholas A. Petrarca and Carrie (White) Petrarca.
She was a 1958 Grove City High School graduate and a 1963 graduate of Slippery Rock State Teachers College, now Slippery Rock University. She later received a master's degree in library science from the University of Pittsburgh.
Marsha was an elementary educator for the Butler School District for 39 years and worked in many leadership positions for the teachers in the BEA and the PSEA. Upon her retirement, she continued to serve the school district as a math consultant.
Her passion for serving continued through community volunteering and mission ministry. In Butler County, Marsha volunteered with the United Way of Butler County and the Butler Hospital Auxiliary. She was a charter member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in America.
Her mission work took her abroad to India and South Korea. One of her favorite mission trips was here in the United States, serving the Navajo Indians in Window Rock, Ariz.
Shirley L. Kerr, her friend and travel companion, shared in both Marsha's ministry and travel interests. They enjoyed visiting many foreign countries together.
All who knew Marsha will continue to speak of the rare treasure she was in this world. A sincere, hard-working, honest, caring, giving, concerned and godly women.
Marsha is survived by her sister, Charine “Sherry” Hovanec of Butler; her sister-in-law, Ann Petrarca of Hermitage; and her nieces and nephews, who Marsha considered her children, Stephen (Christina) Petrarca, John (Cindi) Petrarca, Cynthia Ann Petrarca, Anne-Rene (Morgan) Petrarca-Smith, Matthew (Colleen) Hovanec and Rachel (Jeffrey) Hovanec-Spirer.
Marsha's endless love continued to be shared with the many great-nieces and great-nephews in her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Wayne R. Petrarca, and her brother-in-law, Thomas J. Hovanec.
PETRARCA — There will be no public visitation for Marsha B. Petrarca, who died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015.A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in America, 420 N. Main St., Butler, with the Rev. Dan Ledford, pastor, officiating.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Butler Area Public Library, 218 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001, the Coalition for Christian Outreach, 5912 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh PA 15206, or the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, 100 Campus Lane, Butler, PA 16001.Arrangements are being handled by the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home in Butler.A private burial will take place at the Butler County Memorial Park.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.
