The funeral for Cranberry firefighters and brothers, Mark Nanna and Lee Nanna was held Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

CRANBERRY TWP — Firefighters from four counties joined in a procession as the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company laid to rest two brothers who served their community for nearly 30 years.

Mark and Lee Nanna, who died within hours of each other Jan. 8 and 9, were interred Tuesday following a funeral at Dutilh United Methodist Church. En route to Pinewood Memorial Park, their final resting place, a funeral procession passed by the firehouse, where firefighters stood, hands over hearts, to honor their late comrades.

The procession included firetrucks from Adams, Butler, Cranberry and Middlesex Townships in Butler County; Avalon, Bellevue, Marshall, Sewickley, Shaler and Wexford in Allegheny County; Beaver; and President Township, Venango County, flashing their lights alongside a plethora of area emergency services vehicles.

On Route 19 southbound, opposite the procession, several vehicles pulled to the side of the roadway, hazard lights flashing while drivers stood outside their vehicles to watch the procession. Patrons at nearby stores and restaurants left the buildings to join in the roadside honoring of the two firefighters.

The Nannas joined the fire company on the same day in 1991. Both were lifetime members of the department, an honor given to those who have served the company for more than 15 years. Mark Nanna, 57, died Wednesday night; Thursday morning, his brother Lee, 69, died, hours after learning of Mark's passing.

“Mark and Lee defined community service, dedicating their lives to making their community safer,” Jerry Andree, township manager, said in a statement shortly after their deaths. “The township is better because of their service. Our thoughts are with their families.”