Irene M (Rusnak) Zuza

Irene M (Rusnak) Zuza of Monessen, PA, 99 years young, returned to her Lord on May 31, 2023.  She was preceded in death by her husband Vincent, her daughter Vinnie Ann, her parents George and Mari Rusnak, her seven brothers and sisters, George, Mary (Stash), John, Anne (Idzik), Michael, Margaret and Andrew.  Irene is survived by her daughters Linda Zuza and Bernadette Lynch (Dennis), her two grandsons and wives, Dr. Ryan and Clarissa Lynch and Christopher and Erin Lynch, and three great-grandsons Weston, Grayson and Ethan, as well as many nieces and nephews. A 1943 graduate of Monessen High School, she was honored to be the first to graduate in her family.  Irene and her husband were co-owners of the Summit Dairy Bar in Monessen, and she was also employed at Monessen Cleaners.  She was a homemaker extraordinaire, a master baker and cook and enjoyed canning and sharing vegetables and fruits from her husband’s garden.  She loved to draw and treasured her time with family and friends. She was proud of her Slovakian heritage and Russian Orthodox and Catholic religions. Above all, she had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary and the Holy Rosary.

Irene was active in the Russian Orthodox Club, the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christian Mothers, the First Slovak Catholic Ladies and St Sebastian’s Rosary Guild. During her life, she was a member of St John Divine Russian Orthodox Church, Most Holy Name of Jesus Church and St Sebastian’s Church. Family and friends will be received Friday June 2nd from 10-10:30 am at the Robert A. Billick Funeral Home, Monessen PA. Services will begin with a blessing service at 10:30 am at the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass beginning at 11am at St. Sebastian Church, Belle Vernon, PA. Final internment will be at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Cemetery, Monessen, PA. Condolences may be left for the family at www.billicksfuneralhome.com.