Frances Dolores Berckman Laabs

Frances Dolores Berckman Laabs, 76, of Washington, died on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, in her residence, after a brief illness. She was born on April 8, 1935, in Jersey City, NJ, a daughter of Matthew J. and Frances M. Norton Berckman. A graduate of Saint Dominic Academy in New Jersey, she went on to graduate from Jersey City Medical Center School of Nursing, then moved to Washington in 1971. Mrs. Laabs was a Registered Nurse, having worked at various facilities, including, Washington County Health Center, where she worked for 10 years, United Cerebral Palsy in Washington and finally at Community Care, Inc., of Washington. She also volunteered her time at Open Doors for the Handicapped. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. On December 26, 1955, she married Leonard Laabs, Sr., who died on June 19, 1992. Surviving are 3 sons, Leonard (Eileen) Laabs, of Washington; Peter (Brenda) Laabs, of North Carolina and Josef (Karen) Laabs, of Washington; a daughter, Marianne (William) DiFabio, of Washington; 2 sisters, Roberta (Jack) Waugh, of Hazlet, NJ and Kathleen Berckman, of Brick, NJ; 8 grandchildren, Peter “P.J”, Jessica, Kristen, Anthony, Daniel, Brian, Dawson and Michael, several great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Friends will be received on Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m., in the William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Ave., Washington, PA 15301. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Those wishing to attend the Mass are asked to go directly to the church. Please do not meet at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to either, the Washington Area Humane Society, P.O. Box 66, Eighty-Four, PA 15330 or Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital, 155 Wilson Ave., Washington, PA 15301.