Josephine Ryan

Josephine (Meli) Ryan, 95, of Masontown, passed away on Sunday July 12, 2020 surrounded by her loving family.  She was born on Wednesday, January 28, 1925 in Newfield, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Sicilian immigrants Baldassare Meli and Arsilia (Russo) Meli.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by husband Clement W. Ryan; their stillborn baby boy; and all her siblings: Anna, Rossi, James, Samuel, Carlo, and Carmella.

Left to cherish her memory are her son William C. Ryan; daughter Jacqueline A. Ryan; Aileen (Teenie) Rosky and husband Anthony; son Joseph C. Ryan and wife Debbie; granddaughter Michele Berry and boyfriend Scott McCoy; granddaughter Nicole Berry; step-granddaughter Anna McKenzie; step-granddaughter Danielle (Sis) Serock; step-grandson Danny Serock and wife Kristi; and step great-grandchildren Jaide, Emmah, Ella, and Sophia.

During World War II, Josephine moved to Cleveland, Ohio where she worked at the American Stove Company.  She contributed to the war effort by riveting the P-47 bomber planes and was even coined “Josie the Riveter” by those she worked with.  In 2012, Josephine and family took a trip to Wright-Patterson Airforce base in Dayton, Ohio, to revisit with the P-47 bomber planes she once riveted.  As the war ended and work was no longer available in Cleveland, Josephine returned to Pennsylvania and gained temporary employment with Pittsburgh Plate Glass where she manufactured manual, pushout corner automobile windows.  Subsequently, she worked as the head waitress at New Kensington Hospital.  During that time, she met her husband, “Clem”.  They resided in Tarentum, Pennsylvania.  Josephine was a stay at home housewife/mother, while Clem worked at Springdale Coal Mine until it’s closure in 1967.  In 1968, Josephine and her family moved to Masontown, Pennsylvania after Clem took a position at the Hatfield’s Ferry Power Station.  After her children were grown, Josephine worked as a teacher’s aide for eight years at Echo Childhood Development Center in Masontown.

Josephine was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish (formerly All Saints Parish) in Masontown.  She enjoyed playing bingo, cooking, baking, traveling and loved her granddaughter’s cat, Allie.  Josephine was loved by many, especially her beloved family. She will be dearly missed.

Friends will be received in the Terravecchia-Haky Home for Funerals, Inc., 515 N. Main St., Masontown, PA, on Thursday July 16, 2020 from 2-8 p.m.; and on Friday July 17, 2020 until 9:30 a.m. when prayers of transfer will be said.

The Funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m.in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Masontown PA. with Rev. Father James F. Bump as Celebrant.

Interment will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Masontown, PA.