Nora Viola Birchak

Nora Viola Birchak, of Corvallis, Ore., formerly of Latrobe, died Friday, May 23, 2008, at age 97. She was born in Grip, near Barnesboro, a daughter of the late Martha Sarah (Hess) and Robert Smith Pershing. When she was two years old, the Pershing family moved to Latrobe, where Nora later graduated from Latrobe High School and became a registered nurse in the Latrobe Hospital School of Nursing class of 1932. In 1935, she married Frank J. Birchak. They lived in Unity Township for 56 years before moving to Oregon in 1991. She was a member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Crabtree and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corvallis. She was a member of Gold Star Mothers and an American Red Cross nurse. Nora found joy in her circle of family and friends. She radiated a positive, caring attitude and was known for her friendly smile. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Frank J. Birchak; son, Capt. Francis J. Birchak Jr., who died in Vietnam; sister, Clara Giobbi; and brothers, Benjamin Clyde Pershing, Charles Pershing and Floyd Pershing. She is survived by son, J. Robert and his wife, Christina Birchak, of Spring, Texas; daughter, Clara J. and her husband, Gary Jarman, of Corvallis; son, Paul K. Birchak, of Midlothian, Va.; daughter-in-law, Shirley Birchak (widow of Francis), of Spokane, Wash.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at FREDERICK FUNERAL HOME INC., 1543 Ligonier St., Latrobe, PA 15650. The St. Bartholomew Rosary Alter Society will be recite the Rosary in the funeral home at 7:00 PM Thursday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church, Crabtree. She will be laid to rest with her late husband, Frank, in Calvary Hill Cemetery, Crabtree. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross or a charity of one's choice. To send online condolences, visit www.frederickfuneralhome.com.