ALBERT P. "AL" GRAOVAC

Albert P. “Al” Graovac, 83, passed away on Monday, August 10, 2009 at The Abbewood in Elyria.

Albert was born on February 1, 1926 in Cleveland, OH and later moved to Lorain with his parents.

He was a member of St. Stanislaus Church in Lorain and was a member of The Holy Name Society. Albert was a member of the Amherst Eagles and a lifetime member of the NRA.

Albert graduated from Lorain High School and began working for U.S. Steel in 1944 in the Fuel and Power Department as an instrument repairman. He retired in 1987. He enjoyed dancing in his younger years, crossword puzzles, classical music, photography, reading, and conversations with others and was both a history and automobile buff.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Violet E. (nee: Ledzinskey) Graovac, whom he married on September 22, 1945; loving children, Valerie G. (Butch) Suki, Genevieve A. Graovac and Albert S. (Diana) Graovac; grandchildren, Matthew, Andrew and Caitlin Graovac; and sister-in-law, Genevieve Ledzinskey.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Obrad and Dragica Graovac.

The family will receive friends at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home, 2150 Broadway, Lorain, (440) 244-1961 on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. The Holy Name Society of St. Stanislaus Church will conduct a rosary service on Wednesday at 7 PM. Prayers will be held at the Funeral Home on Thursday at 9:20 AM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM, Thursday, August 13, 2009 at St. Stanislaus Church, 2702 Elyria Ave., Lorain, Fr. David A. Novak, officiating. Interment Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to The Holy Name Society of St. Stanislaus Church, 2702 Elyria Ave., Lorain, OH 44052

DOROTHY BUTTITTA

Dorothy Buttitta passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on August 1, 2009. She was a life-long resident of Lorain, growing up as the youngest of John and Mary (Petrik) Bires’ eleven children.

Dorothy was a 1947B graduate of Lorain High School and attended computer technology classes at Lorain County Community College at the forefront of the information age. She worked in a number of administrative positions and, most recently, retired in 1992 after 12 years with the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services as an unemployment claims examiner.

Dorothy was proudest and most committed though to her role as devoted wife for nearly 60 years of Lewis J. Buttitta, dear mother of Ilona Acree (Timothy) of Murfreesboro, TN, and Frank of Chicago, IL, and encouraging grandmother of Matthew and Daniel Acree. She was a Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Band Parents leader, Sunday School instructor, and PTA committee chair during her children’s school years. Dorothy then turned her energies to various volunteer duties at the American Slovak Club, Ladies Auxiliary of the Italian American War Veterans, and Church of Saint Peter.

Dorothy and her husband also were frequently spotted jitterbugging across ballroom dance floors throughout the area in between their extensive travels around the United States and abroad.

A private service celebrating Dorothy’s life has been held, so please remember her in your own hearts, prayers, and acts of kindness to others. The family requests any memorial contributions be made to The Salvation Army, 2506 Broadway, Lorain, OH 44052.

Reidy Scanlan Giovannazzo Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

PATRICIA J. HENSON

Patricia J. Henson, 68, of Westlake, passed away Friday night at West Bay Nursing Home, Westlake.

She was born January 8, 1941 in Shawnee, OH. Patricia was a member of St. Anthony’s of Padua. She enjoyed reading and spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by two daughters Rhonda Callahan, Lorain and Angela (Robert) Haladak, Lorain; one son Todd (Willa) Henson, Vermilion; Mother Catherine Coates; three grandchildren Brandon and Chad Callahan, and Justin Regler, two great grandchild Aubrey and Carter Callahan; two brothers David (Huison) Coates, Oklahoma, and Joseph (Donna) Coates, Norwalk, and several nieces and nephews.

Patricia was preceded in death by her father Richard Coates Sr., son Rodger Henson, and brother Richard Coates Jr.

The family will receive friends at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home, 2150 Broadway, Lorain (440) 244-1961, on Tuesday Aug, 4 from 9-11 AM. There will be a prayer service at the funeral home on Tuesday at 11:00 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM Tuesday at St. Anthony’s of Padua, 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain, with Fr. Joseph West O.V.M., Conv, Pastor officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Elyria.