Vincentia A Artkowsky

Vincentia A. Artkowsky, 100, of Tarentum, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, at Platinum Ridge Nursing Home, Brackenridge. She was born July 28, 1915, in Brackenridge, daughter of the late Louis and Sophia Valasek. Vincentia has lived in Tarentum her entire life where she was a member of Holy Martyrs Church, Tarentum. She was a homemaker and earlier in her life she was a nanny for the family of a Brackenridge clothing store owner. Crocheting was a passion for Vincentia, and her children and extended family became the beneficiaries of her artistry with blankets, hats, scarves, gloves, everything imaginable, keepsakes for all of them. She crocheted until the arthritis in her hands stopped her. Her hobbies included reading, gardening and cooking. Her family loved everything she made, but there was a particular fondness for her porcupine meatballs. She especially enjoyed her family and her grandchildren. Vincentia married Joseph Artkowsky in 1940 and raised four children, Carol J. Craig, of West Deer Township, Kathy A. Stettmier, of Tarentum, Joseph Artkowsky, of East McKeesport, and David Artkowsky and Kathy Taylor, of Tarentum; grandchildren, Kimberly (Sean) Clements, of West Deer Township, Kelly Craig, of Chicago, Ill., Bonnie (Timothy) Wenskovitch, of Saxonburg, George Stettmier, of Tarentum, Brandon Artkowsky, of Freeport, and Victoria (Greg) Lechner, of Tarentum; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Also surviving are her siblings, Helen Valasek, of Tarentum, and Albert (Mary Ann) Valasek, of North Syracuse, N.Y. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph B. Artkowsky, in 1989; sisters, Mary Mallets and Angie Buco; and two infant brothers. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the DUSTER FUNERAL HOME INC., 347 E. Tenth Ave., Tarentum, 724-224-1526, where a parting service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday followed by a Christian funeral Mass in Holy Martys Church, Tarentum, with the Rev. Thomas L. Gillespie, MD, officiating. Interment will be in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Frazer Township. Visit: www.dusterfuneralhomeinc.com.Published in The Valley News Dispatch on Oct. 14, 2015