Patricia S. Nicolella

Patricia S. Nicolella, 80, of Washington, died at Allegheny General Hospital, in Pittsburgh, following a brief illness. She was born on November 11, 1931, in Washington, a daughter of the late Andrew and Amelia Margaret Yankovitch Sawchuck. A 1949 graduate of Immaculate Conception High School, she was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where she taught CCD classes for many years and served on the parish council. Mrs. Nicolella worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone, from 1951 until 1963, and was a member of the Bell Telephone Pioneers. She served as a volunteer for many years at the March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and American Cancer Society. Mrs. Nicolella is a past member of Washington Hospital Auxiliary, where she served as chairman of Charity Board in 1979. She was a member of Symphony South. On August 27, 1960, she married Joseph J. Nicolella, who survives. Also surviving, are 2 sons, Michael J. (Missy) Nicolella, of Washington; Joseph (Mary Terese) Nicolella, Jr., of Dover, NH; a daughter, Joni Nicolella Spear, of St. Louis, MO; a brother, Henry Sawchuck, of Washington; 3 sisters, Mildred “Midge” Parkinson, of Washington; Laverne Rockwell, of Lancaster, OH, and Peggy Bunner, of Tampa, FL; 7 grandchildren, Margaret and Thomas Nicolella, Jack, Katie and Joseph Spear, and Anthony and Alyssa Nicolella. Deceased is a brother, Bob Sawchuck. Mrs. Nicolella stipulated in her last rites request, that her dear friends and loved ones not grieve, but only remember the good times, the happy times, for she is now at peace with her Lord. Friends will be received on Monday, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Tuesday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., in the William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Ave., Washington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with Father William Feeney as Celebrant. Entombment will follow in St, James Mausoleum, at Immaculate Conception Cemetery.