Carol Jean Steffaro, 80, of Slippery Rock, PA, fell asleep in the Lord on April 14, 2023.
Carol is survived by her husband, Archpriest John Steffaro; daughter, Beth Willison and her husband, Robert; son, Michael Steffaro and his wife, Allison; grandchildren, Hannah, Alexis, Nathaniel, Isabelle, Andrew, Arianna, and a host of other friends and family.
Formerly of Lorain, Ohio, Carol was born on June 25, 1942, as the only child of George and Sophie Simerick. Carol graduated from Bowling Green University and did graduate work at the University of Hawaii. She taught English and Social Studies at Lorain Middle School and was an active parishioner at Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church and a member of the Serbian Singing Federation.
Carol married John Steffaro on August 10, 1968, and began teaching at Scarsdale High School. Once he was ordained, they moved to Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Garfield, New Jersey. While in Garfield, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth ‘Beth’ in 1970, and moved to Weirton, West Virginia in 1971 where they stayed for 25 years. During that time, they gave birth to their son, Michael in 1972, and Carol remained a very active community member in the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church choir, Ladies Altar Society, Sunday school, and Fellowship of Orthodox Christians.
Carol worked as the assistant director to the Governor of West Virginia, John D. Rockefeller in the Weirton office from 1977 to 1985. Following this, she worked as the B.O.L.T. lady (“Blot Out Litter Today”) where she educated others on environmental cleanliness. Then she became the director for community education at West Virginia Northern Community College, Weirton campus from 1987 to 1996.
Carol moved with Father John to Campbell, Ohio to serve at Saint ohn the Baptist Orthodox Church where she was a member of the church choir, Sunday school, sisterhood, FOCA O’ Club, and studied iconography. Upon Father John’s retirement the two moved to Treasure Lake in DuBois, PA where they resided for 11 years. She was a member of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in DuBois, PA and also attended Holy Trinity Church in State College, PA to support Father John when he served there.
In 2021, they moved to Slippery Rock, PA to reside with her daughter and son-in-law, and began regularly attending Saint John the Baptist in Campbell, Ohio again, and she also found peace, tranquility, strength, and love with the nuns at Holy Transfiguration Monastery.
A viewing will be held on Friday, April 21 from 3:00 -6:00 PM, with a Funeral Service at 6:00 PM at Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church, Campbell, OH followed by a Divine Liturgy at 9:30 AM, on Saturday, April 22 at the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA. Burial and interment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Weirton, WV, Saint John the Baptist in Campbell, OH, or the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA.
May Matushka Carol’s memory be eternal!