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Karen M. Paterra

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | March 26, 2021

Karen M. (Tom Katona) Paterra, 71, lifelong resident of Versailles Borough, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2020 in White Oak. Karen was born in McKeesport on April 14, 1948, daughter of the late Joseph and Agnes (Smith) Paterra of Versailles Borough. She was preceded in death by her sister, Paula Paterra who died in 1972. She was a member of Mary, Mother of God Church - St. Patrick Worship Site, The Palenese League of America, and served as a past officer of the Palenese Women's Auxiliary She was retired from the County of Allegheny where she worked for over 24 years as an administrative secretary. Karen was a jack-of-all-trades. and would attempt any home repair job that she physically could. She was a women of great faith and her family was the center of her world. She was a 1966 graduate of McKeesport High School. From 1969 to 1971 she traveled to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy and France. For her, the highlight of these travels was when she was so close to Pope Paul VI, she could almost reach out and touch him.

She leaves behind her daughters, Nicole Katona and Joelle (Lenny) Harbert of White Oak granddaughter Casey Harbert and grandsons, Jacob Harbert, Rocco Katona, and Layke Katona-Pysz, her devoted fiancée, Ted Oshinski, sister-in-law, Georgette Katona, niece and nephew, Andrea and A.J. Ackley and many cousins, friends, and grand dogs, Diesel and Scoop. Private family visitation was held at the Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1638 Lincoln Way, White Oak. (412) 672-6322 Troy J. Gilbert, Director. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 10:00am at the St. Patrick Church, in Christy Park, followed by a graveside blessing and a dove release at the Corpus Christi Calvary Cemetery, in Port Vue. Purple was Karen's favorite color & represents new life. Please include, in any variation, purple within your wardrobe on this special day. Afterwards, there will be a Luncheon at the Antonelli Event Center, in North Huntingdon, from 12:00-3:30pm. Please RSVP via Joelle Harbert's Facebook page or call Nikki Katona at (412) 754-0505. Condolences may be made at Gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com

Originally published March 26, 2021.

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