Paul G. Moffa

01/25/1922 - 12/21/2004

Paul G. Moffa, 82, of Greensburg, went to join his brothers and sisters in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was born in Georges Station, Pa., Jan. 25, 1922, the eighth of 10 children. At the age of 3, his father, Salvatore Moffa, and mother, Carmella (Mignogna), relocated the family to Grapeville. As a child of the Great Depression, he grew up with nothing more than a bumpy road ahead of him. He would tell stories about using barrel staves for skis, winding string to make a ball and being teased just because he was an Italian. Against his father's wishes, he went to high school instead of taking a job on the railroad. His dream was to become a doctor; but after graduation from Jeannette High School, times were tough, so he took a job as a plant guard at Westinghouse Electric in East Pittsburgh. World War II broke out, and he followed three of his brothers into the service by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. On the day he shipped out from the Greensburg train station, a special bond was formed with a local girl he had known for just a few years, Carmella Wass. He was assigned to the 5th Marine Division and eventually landed with the first wave on Iwo Jima. During the war, the bond that was formed at the train station turned into love. Paul and Carmella were married June 19, 1948. He returned to his job at Westinghouse Electric, where he remained for 44 years, and at the same time worked at various odd jobs to help make a better life for his family. Paul was a member of the Hilltop Social Club, Hose Company #7 and Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensburg. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 56 years, Carmella; two sons, Paul G. Moffa Jr. and Dr. David A. Moffa, DMD, and wife Rosemarie, grandchildren, David and Carmelena Moffa, all of Greensburg; and a sister, Florence Booley, of Grapeville. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Mike, Tony, Dan and Salvatore, and sisters, Millie Brunot, Josephine Galando, Anna Decesere and Lena Moffa. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate the life of Paul in the CLEMENT L. PANTALONE FUNERAL HOME INC., 409 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, 724-837-0020, Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Prayers will be held in the funeral home Thursday at 9 a.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Grace Church Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Entombment will follow in Greensburg Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum, Greensburg. Memorial gifts may be made to Westmoreland Hospital Foundation, 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601. For online obituaries and directions, please visit us at www.pantalone.com. Natale N. Pantalone, Supervisor.