Rosetta "Rae" Zurovcik

Jaycox-Jaworski Funeral Home & Crematory

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | December 13, 2021

Rosetta "Rae" Zurovcik, age 97, of Port Vue, died December 11, 2021, at Halcyon Senior Living. Born April 19, 1924, in London, England, she was the daughter of the late William Henry and Mary Anne (Hewson) Brewer and the wife of the late Joseph S. Zurovcik for 63 blessed years.

Rae retired from South Allegheny School District as a cafeteria worker. She was a South Allegheny Band Parent and a Port Vue Legionettes drill instructor, American Legion Post 447.

She was a member of the Holy Family Polish National Catholic Church and the Frederic Chopin Choir.   She was a member of the Port Vue American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post #447 and the Liberty, Versailles, and Port Vue Seniors organizations. In her early years, Rae served in the British Army (A.T.S.) during World War II as one of twelve female welders in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, also known as R.E.M.E. She was a member of the WWII War Brides Association. She was featured in a book on War Brides, called "G.I. Brides." Rae was a strong, active woman who loved to sing, travel, read, tell stories, knit, and crochet. She was known for her English Trifle, which she would bake for holidays and special occasions. Rae enjoyed traveling to many countries, including trips to England and War Bride Reunions, throughout the United States. She loved to lead the sing-along during the War Bride reunions. One of the many highlights of her travels was meeting and taking a picture with Queen Elizabeth II.
Rae is survived by her children, Lynda (Louis) Witherspoon of Stephens City, VA, Susan (Paul) Shelly of McKeesport and Michael (Nancy) Zurovcik of Canonsburg, PA; grandchildren, Michael (Jessica) Witherspoon, Paul J. (Katie) Shelly, Anne and Ryan Schillinger, Mary (Jared) Kean, and Beth Shelly; great-grandchildren, Isaac Witherspoon and Brooklyn Shelly; brother, Ronald Burton of England; also nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, Rae was also preceded in death by siblings, William Brewer, Elizabeth Batten, Victor Brewer, and Mary Jackman.
Family and friends will be received at Jaycox-Jaworski Funeral Home & Crematory on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A blessing service will be held on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., in the funeral home chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated immediately following, 10 a.m., at Holy Family Polish National Catholic Church. Fr. Bruce Sleczkowski will be the celebrant. Inurnment will be in St. Peter and Paul Slovak Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Holy Family Polish National Catholic Church, 1921 Eden Park Blvd., McKeesport, PA 15132.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.jaycox-jaworskifh.com
Chris Odasso, Supervisor.

Originally published December 13, 2021.

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