Joan O'Leary

Of Bethel Park Retirement Independent Senior Living, formerly of Delmont and later of Freedom, was born February 3, 1926, to Elsie Margaret (Lucot) and William Xavier Soboslay and went home to the Lord on Monday, July 1, 2013. In addition to her parents who passed on before Joan was eight years old, preceding her in death to light the way are William George O'Leary her husband who went to greet the Lord eight months shy of their golden anniversary, infant daughter Mary Theresa, sister Dorothy Eileen "Bosley" Wilder of Granby, ME and twin brother William Robert Soboslay of Monroeville, as well as in-laws Helen (Regis) Sheehan, Henrietta Robbins, Dorothy (George) Riley, Thomas O'Leary, and James (Georgianna) O'Leary all of the greater Pittsburgh area and Bettie (Joseph) Konrad of CT. Joan obtained a BA from Duquesne University's School of Music and her BA Education from what was then Mount Mercy College, now Carlow University. She taught in parochial schools in Ohio and at Cathedral Elementary School in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. Joan substituted as organist for St. Paul's Cathedral while serving as organist at St. Richard's in the Hill District, then at St. John de La Salle in Delmont. Mrs. O'Leary retired from Kmart Corporation in 1986 and remained active by serving as a catechist and Eucharistic Minister with husband Bill at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Pleasant Hills and later at St. Ferdinand in Cranberry Township. Joan enjoyed the company of her many friends and play bingo and bowling at Bethel Retirement, completing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, creating arts and crafts, and was a wiz at Skip Bo and Uno. Joan leaves her six children: Martin (Cindy) of IL, Daniel (Barb) of Zelienople, Patricia Maloney (Mark) of Bethel Park, John, Thomas (Belinda) of Beaver Falls, and Edward, 19 grandchildren (Mary Norton, Justin O'Leary, Sarah Brucher; Marcus, Chelsea and Danny O'Leary; Joshua, Jessica, Jillian and Johanna Maloney; Joy Kyrie, Aubrey,Merica, Graeme, Reese, and Elijah O'Leary; and Koren and Ryan O'Leary), five great-grandchildren (Shaun and Kayley Norton, Lenny O'Leary, Jack Brucher and Rylan Maloney), in-laws Claire O'Leary (Pittsburgh), Jack and Mary O'Leary (Franklin Park), Patricia Wells (Gibsonia) Richard and Pat O'Leary (NH) as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family who mourn her passing. Friends are welcome at FREYVOGEL SLATER FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 112 Fort Couch Road Friday 2-4 & 6-8. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 1443 Lincoln Hwy in North Versailles. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in her name to The Center for Compassionate Care (part of Family Hospice and Palliative Care) at 50 Moffet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 where so many good souls cared for Joan's comfort as she entered God's waiting room to ensure her a peaceful passing on to greater glory.