Lillian Pozum Laird – Belle Vernon
Lillian Pozum Laird, 83, of Belle Vernon, Rostraver Township, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, at Penn Highlands Mon Valley in Carroll Township. Born Sept. 12, 1940, in North Charleroi, she was the daughter of the late James W. and Olga Oleynik Pozum. Her father, James, was the founder and leader of The Blue Danube Tamburitza Orchestra. Lillian grew up immersed in Croatian culture and music. Mrs. Laird was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon. Lillian was a retired garment presser at the former Charland Sportswear in Speers and former union officer of Charland Sportswear, member of Croatian Fraternal Union Cokeburg Lodge 354 and St. George Adult Tamburitzans. When her children were in school, she supported their clubs and extracurricular activities and enjoyed traveling with the Belle Vernon Area High School band as a band parent chaperon. She is survived by her two daughters and son-in-law, Eleanor and Artie Shaffer of Geneva, Ohio, and Elaine and Charles Gaertner of Carrboro, N.C.; sister, Dorothy and Negley “Ted” Rodgers; sister-in-law, Joy Pozum; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Alana Laird; four grandchildren, Devastasha (Dominic) Loveland, Leo (Jenna) Beaver, Greta Gaertner and Van Gaertner; six great-grandchildren Augusten, Everett, Oscar, Jackson, Olympia and Sophia; and several loving nieces and nephews who were very important to her. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Laird, to whom she was married for 49 years at the time of his passing; son, William “Bill” Laird; and brother, James Pozum Jr. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME & CREMATIONS LLC, family owned and operated, 626 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, 724-929-6183. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Parzynski Funeral Home & Cremations LLC with the Rev. Michael J. Crookston of St. Sebastian R.C. Church officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website, www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.
