Mary Ann Osso Fox
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Washington Steel Retiree
Mary Ann Osso Fox, 81, of Washington, died Wednesday April 28, 2021 at Woodside Place, of Washington. She was born July 25, l939 in Washington a daughter of the late Alfred and Elvera Derrico Osso.
Mary Ann was a l957 graduate of Washington High School. While in high school, she worked at the family’s business, Osso’s Pizza Shop, on weekends and over the summers at the first shop her father opened at the corner of Woodland and Jefferson Avenues. After graduation, she began her career as secretary to the district manager of Baltimore Life Insurance Company. On January 2, l958 she went to work for Washington Steel Corporation and was there for 41-1/2 years. She was a secretary in the sales department for 20 years and executive assistant to the president until the company closed. She continued to work until 2005 as an executive secretary at Dynamet Incorporated for 3 years and Valley Gasses for two years.
On September 28, 1973 she married Harry Joseph Fox who passed away May 4, 2007.
Mary Ann always had a desire to go to college. In 1985 she enrolled in the evening degree program at Washington & Jefferson College while she was working at Washington Steel. In May of l991, she graduated with high honors and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. During those years, she also studied for the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) designation that was administered by The Institute for Certifying Secretaries department of Professional Secretaries. She earned the CPS designation in 1986.
Harry was totally supportive of her going to college. It did not take long before he realized he had to do more chores around the house. With her full-time job, attending evening classes, and studying, she had little time to do her share. Even though he had a full-time job at Sears, he did not hesitate to jump in with both feet and do even more than he had to. Harry even washed clothes but he never sorted them and kind of ruined some of her good clothes but she just handled that. She just hid her good laundry and let him do his thing.
After Harry passed away she joined the local Washington Festival Chorale and enjoyed singing with them until her illness.
Mary Ann was the go to person for the entire family. She mentored her nieces and nephews and was always there for them when they went to college. She typed their term papers and guided them throughout their college years. She was a perfectionist and the kids knew that and she never let them submit their papers until they were perfect. She actually wore them out. Mary Ann also did some tutoring.
Mary Ann was truly a special person and she will be missed.
Surviving are her stepdaughter, Lisa Fox (James Hawranko) of Pittsburgh; her step granddaughter, Angie LaPosta and Michael Lyon, of Canonsburg; her sisters, Virginia Osso Ullom and Margaret (John) Skariot of Washington; her nephew and godchild, John Michael Alberta of Washington; nieces, Blair (Chris) Ernest of Washington, Brooke (Ben Salata) Alberta of Canonsburg, Jennifer (Brandt) Bowman of Pittsburgh and Lisa Skariot of Ohio, Mindy (Richard) Earliwine and Lisa (David) Hasson of Washington; great nieces and nephews, Mandy Smoke, James (Jasmine) Hughes, Robert (Laura) Hasson and Kristen ( Alex ) Maldonado. Also surviving are many great-great nieces and nephews.
Deceased in addition to her parents and her husband is her brother, Samuel Osso; her nephew, Sammy Osso; her sister-in-law, Patricia Agnew Osso and her brother-in-law, Kenneth John Ullom.
A special thanks to Gary & Juanita Karluk, Pam Roberts, Woodside Place and Gateway Hospice who helped care for Mary Ann.
Friends will be received on Friday-May 7, 2021 from 3 P.M. until 4 P.M. the hour of a memorial service in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Ave., Washington, S. Timothy Warco, Supervisor/Director, Susan Falvo Warco, Director, S. Timothy Warco II, Director. Memorial contributions may be made to Washington Area Humane Society, P.O. Box 66 Eighty Four PA 15330 or at www.washingtonpashelter.org. Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com