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Rosa D. Lesako

Rosa D. Lesako, her family’s English mum and Nana, of Carmichaels, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2013, in Evergreen Personal Care Home, Waynesburg.

She was born January 23, 1918, in London, England, a daughter of the late Harry and Rose Bone Heasman.

As a teenager, she trained as a garment cutter and seamstress and went to work in London’s West End.

Mrs. Lesako was a survivor of the Blitz and served her country in the British Army Territorial Service.

During the war, she met a young U.S. soldier, Paul Lesako, at a dance, and they were married in 1946. In 1960, they scraped enough money together to buy a funeral home in Carmichaels, where she worked tirelessly until he died in 1985.

She was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Hugh Church in Carmichaels and the Altar Rosary Society.

Mrs. Lesako belonged to the Carmichaels Grange, Women’s Civic Club and Warrior Trail.

Surviving are four children, Paul M. Lesako and wife Rachel, Joan Clites and husband John, David Lesako and wife Miriam Rubin and Susan Martin and husband Kevin; four grandchildren, Diana Clapper and husband Troy, Adam Martin and wife Sheena, Gina Lesako and fiancé Steve Volsko and Paul (P.J.) Martin; three great-grandchildren, Codi and Nathan Clapper and Kennedy Rose Martin; a sister-in-law, Mary Ondo; brothers-in-law Anthony Jaswa and Andy Belvis; and many nieces and nephews.

Also surviving are her family in England, a sister, Joan Gladman, and a brother, Harold Heasman and wife Joan.

She will be remembered as a loving mother and caring woman who comforted families during their time of loss and grief. She did live by the motto “stay calm and carry on” and have a cup of tea.

Friends will be received in her home from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday in Paul M. Lesako Funeral Home Inc., 204 Dowlin Avenue, Carmichaels, PA 15320, 724-966-5100, where a prayer service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 19, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Hugh Church, Carmichaels, with the Rev. John Bauer as celebrant. A parish wake service will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a charity of one’s choice. www.lesakofuneralhomeinc.com.

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