Mary Ellen (Rocca) Cain

Mary Ellen Rocca Cain (Maria Elena) age 94 of Perryopolis passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2016, around 10:00 a.m. peacefully at home with her daughter, Cheryl Cain Erdely and first granddaughter, Maria Elena Frioni by her side.  Her husband, Joseph P. Cain and Jesus met her to accompany her to meet her Lord.  She was born Maria Elena Rocca on February 18, 1921 in Newell, PA the daughter of the late Maria Adelina, Falerna Province of Catanzaro, Italy and Saverio Rocca, Nocera Terinese Province of Catanzaro, Italy.  

She attended Newell School and worked for Federal Housing in Washington, DC, where she met the love of her life, Private Joseph P. Cain.  Joseph and she lived in Newell, PA for a period of time and then moved to Aliquippa, PA to continue their life.

Mary was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church of Perryopolis.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  Mary raised her family and nephew Geary Franklin Rocca of Plano, Texas with love and patience.  Gram/Big Gram was also an active participant in raising Cheryl’s children and grandchildren.  Even after her family was grown, she always took an active role with them.

Besides her loving husband Joseph, she was preceded in death by the following siblings in order of age: Rosaria Rocca, Fenice Rocca, Domenico Rocca, Giuseppe Rocca (1), Giuseppe Rocca (2), Michele Rocca, Giuseppina Rocca, Alberto Rocca, Ernesto Rocca, Domenico Rocca, Ricci Emilio Rocca, Roberto Rocca, Maria Elena Rocca, Saverio Roberto Rocca and Erina Vincenza Rocca.

She is survived by her three children: Cheryl Cain Erdely of Perryopolis, PA, her only son, Joseph P. Cain, Jr. of Georgetown, PA, youngest daughter, Bernadette Ann Cain of California, PA, her son-in-law Timothy Lee Erdely, Mary Esther (Cain) Taylor of Pittsburgh was and always will be her loving daughter-in-law, four grandchildren: Maria Elena Frioni of Perryopolis, William (Bill) Frioni and his wife Kristina of Ohioville, Joseph P. Cain III and his wife Melissa of Hookstown, PA, and Christine Erdely Lombard and her husband Christopher of Rostraver.  She had seven great Grandchildren: Ian Robert Cain Frioni Erdely, Harlee Christine Cain Frioni Erdely, Sarah Grace Cain, Luke William Frioni, Bella Ann Cain, Paige Marie Frioni, Celeste Christine Lombard, Kacie Lombard,  and Chelsie Lombard.  She is also survived by her sister who is 97, Violet Mae Traversari of New Salem, PA.  She (Aunt Nini) loved and is loved by all of her nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and great, great, nieces and nephews which number over 100.  She will be sadly missed.

Mary’s family will received friends and relatives at Blair-Lowther Funeral Home, Inc., 305 Rear Independence Street, Perryopolis, PA on Thursday, February 4th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  A prayer service will be held at 10:00 a. m. Friday followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Perryopolis, PA.   Father Anthony Ditto will be the celebrant.  Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hopewell Township.

She will be greatly missed by all her friends and family in Newell, Aliquippa, California and Perryopolis, PA.  Mary touched the lives of hundreds of people.  She worked alongside her daughters at McMonagles/Pizza JO’s in California, PA.    Big Gram touched lives of employees of McMonagles/Pizza JO’s and hundreds of college students of California University of Pennsylvania.

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