Nov 23, 2013

Member of St. Patrick Church

Sophia D. Gromacki Caruso, 98, of Canonsburg, passed away peacefully at 1:10 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2013, in Strabane Woods, South Strabane Township.

She was born August 7, 1915, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late John and Kazmira Staniszewski Gromacki.

Mrs. Caruso lived most of her life in Canonsburg, where she attended St. Genevieve Parochial School and was a graduate of Canonsburg High School.

She was a member of St. Patrick Church and its Christian Mothers and Guild.

Prior to her retirement in 1988, she had been employed as a deputy director in the voter registration and election offices for 12 years. After retirement, she worked the official recount board for eight years.

Mrs. Caruso was a charter member and past president of Canonsburg Council of Democratic Women, a member and passed grand regent of Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Canonsburg 1211. She had been past district deputy serving four years at courts in Burgettstown and St. Agatha’s in Bridgeville. She was a member and past president of Past Regents Club of the Pittsburgh Diocese, where she had been past vice chairman of the Pittsburgh Diocese Committee. She was also a member of Canonsburg Senior Citizens and KSKJ St. Jerome Lodge 153 of Strabane. She was a founding member of Canonsburg Hospital Gray Ladies and was the first lady of Canonsburg, while her husband served as the last burgess and first mayor of the borough.

On December 27, 1936, she married Fred Caruso, who passed away May 9, 1998, after celebrating 61 years of marriage.

Surviving are four children, Patricia Vinisky of Houston, Lt Col. James R. (Joyce) Caruso, U.S. Army Retired, of Succasunna, N.J., Fred D.(Joanne) Caruso of Washington and Kathleen (John) Simpson of Charleston, S.C.; seven grandchildren, Mary Beth Vinisky, James (Jill) Caruso and Christopher (Michelle) Caruso, John R. Simpson III, Tessa (Timothy) Gonyea, Margo Simpson and Darren Caruso; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Rose DiGiovanni of California and Mary Mastrangelo of Canonsburg; and several nieces and nephews.

She was the last of her immediate family.

Deceased, in addition to her husband and parents, are a grandson, Michael Vinisky, who died December 10, 1983; a brother, Joseph Gromacki; and two sisters, Mary O’Laughlin and Rose Gromacki.

Friends are welcome from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday in Salandra Funeral Service Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120, where departing prayers will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 26, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick Church, Canonsburg. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The Christian Mothers and Guild of St. Patrick will recite the rosary at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

To view or extend condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.