Clara V. Stanzian

Please keep the family and friends of Clara V. Stanzian Iin your hearts and minds.

Clara was 93 years of age, formerly of Hazelwood, and passed away peacefully on March 22, 2017.



She was lovingly cared for by her family through her transition. She was preceded by her parents, Domenico and Maria Teresa (Storto) Stanziano of Hazelwood, formerly of Castellino del Biforno, Italy, and brothers Glorioso Domenic (Marcella), Orlando (Dorene) Stanziano, and John (Dolores) Stanziano.



Clara never married, but became a surrogate mother and grandmother to Orlando’s children (and, later, his grandchildren) after the untimely passing of her sister-in-law Dorene (at age 23). She will be deeply missed as loving aunt/mom to Thomas (Diana) Stanziano and Theresa Stanziano Ciletti (Bill preceded her), loving great Leo (Christina) Ciletti, Teresa (Rick) Harrell, Tom (Wendy) Stanziano Jr., Pam (Mike) Ruffing, and Sean Stanziano, loving great-great aunt/great-grandmother to Sabrina Filipek Don, Paul Medved III, Nikole Medved, Krystal (Matt) Soukup, Kara Hoffman, Devin Tomei, Damon Chiodo, Alyssa Ciletti, Laci Ciletti, Lexi Harrell, Aaron Harrell, Caleb Stanziano, Ava Stanziano, Ryan Ruffing, Dylan Ruffing, Lauren Ruffing, Logan Ruffing, Abrianna Stanziano and loving great-great-great aunt/great-great grandmother to Sadie, Colton, and Logan Soukup and Vanity Medved. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.



The family was very blessed to enjoy her love, generosity, and spunk for so many decades! Clara spent the entirety of her career, more than 40 years, with Bell Telephone (now Verizon), and she was a lifelong member of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Hazelwood. Those who knew her well knew that she was never without her bus pass, loved growing flowers in her garden, enjoyed cooking (homemade sauce, hand-rolled cavatelli, and brownies from scratch were some of her – and our – favorites), and she adored the many cats she rescued and adopted over the years.



Family and friends will be received at the John D. O’Connor and Son Funeral Home, Inc., Patrick Vereb, Supervisor, 5106 Second Avenue, 15207, 412-521-8116 on Sunday 2-4 and 6-8 PM and again Monday at 9 AM before the Mass of Christian Burial in St. Stephen Catholic Church at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Clara’s memory to Gateway Hospice, 9380 McKnight Road, Suite 201 Arcadia Court, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.