Thomas J. Mrozenski Sr.

1924 - 11

Thomas J. Mrozenski Sr., 83, of Derry, died Friday, June 20, 2008, in Loyalhanna Care Center, Derry Township. He was born Nov. 12, 1924, in Dorothy, a son of the late Boleswa (William) and Sophia Cackowski Mrozenski. Tom was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church of Derry and had formerly served on the parish council. He was a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Holy Name Society. He was a proud Navy veteran, having served in the South Pacific on the USS Bataan (CVL-29) aircraft carrier and was a member of the orchestra. Tom was a great lover of music, having played in bands in Westmoreland and Indiana counties. He loved his old time family music get-togethers playing his trumpet. He was the lead trumpet player in the Latrobe Colonial Drum and Bugle Corps. Tom had played taps over the years at many veterans' funerals and Memorial Day services. He was a retired employee of Kennametal, having worked in the carbide department, and was a member of the Derry American Legion Post 324. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Catherine Mrozenski and Genevieve Koutsky; and four brothers, Ted S. Merzenski, Zigmont, Henry and Adam Mrozenski. Tom is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Kuzemczak Mrozenski; his loving daughter, Anna Catherine Mrozenski-Nieto and her husband, Jose, of San Antonio, Texas; his loving son, Thomas J. Mrozenski Jr. and his wife, Cynthia, of Ben Avon; five grandchildren, Dustin and Courtney Nieto, Erica, Logan and Lance Mrozenski; a brother, William Mrozenski and his wife, Marge, of Latrobe; a sister, Helen Gross, of Nashville, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. Third Ave., Derry. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church with Father Stephen C. West as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Church Cemetery. Derry American Legion Post 324 and Derry VFW Post 444 will conduct military services at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Online condolences may be made to www.mccabefuneralhomes.com.