John J. Ross – North Belle Vernon

John J. Ross, 71, of North Belle Vernon, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. A son of the late John J. and Anna Mendicino Ross, he was born in North Charleroi on Aug. 20, 1947. John was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, a life member of the North Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, a life member of Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659, a third and fourth degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 3026, served on the board of directors of Belle Vernon Public Library and was formerly a North Belle Vernon councilman, having served two terms. John retired after 37 years of service from the Clairton plant of U.S. Steel Company and for the past 10 years, worked as a security guard at Mon Valley Hospital. He also served in the U.S. Army reserves during the Vietnam War. John loved watching old TV shows and his cat, Garfield. Survivors include his wife, Cindy Kish Ross, with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage on Aug. 24, 2018, one daughter and son-in-law, Laurie and Paul Giannini of Belle Vernon; a son-in-law, Brian (Carla) Rotheram of Harrisburg; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Toby Ross of North Belle Vernon and Thomas and Trenise Ross of Stephens City, Va.; three grandchildren, Brooke, Brian and Brianna Rotheram; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jean and Mario Fazzini of Fayette City; and two nephews, Travis Ross and Tommy Ross. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherry Rotheram, on June 9, 2009, and a brother, Michael Ross in 2012. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 724-929-5300, 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, www.FergusonFuneralHomeandCrematory.com. A blessing service will take place in the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, followed by a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Sebastian R.C. Church with the Rev. Francisco Gan as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Rosary will be prayed in the funeral home at 3 p.m. Wednesday, led by members of St. Sebastian Parish. The North Belle Vernon Fire Department will meet in the funeral home at 7 p.m. Wednesday to hold services, followed by services by the Belle Vernon American Legion. At 7:30 p.m., the Knights of Columbus, Council 3026, will meet in the funeral home to pray the Rosary.