Clara (Russo) Conner
Age 88, of Penn Hills, passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022. Born on July 19, 1934 in Hopedale, OH, she was the daughter of the late Geanor and Giovanna “Jeanette” (Laratta) Russo. Clara grew up on a family farm in the coal mining region of Harrison County, OH. Clara moved to Pittsburgh in 1952 after graduating from Hopedale High School and worked for American Casualty Insurance. She met her husband Gilbert Daniel Conner and they married on July 26, 1958. She raised two sons and a daughter. After the kids were grown, she worked for Reed Smith Law Firm, retiring in 1997.
Clara was a kind, compassionate, and loving woman and was always willing to love and care for her friends and relatives. She had a great group of friends, especially her faithful friends Honey and Don Handyside and family. She enjoyed reminiscing about our family vacations to visit her family in California and loved the company of her Russo and Conner relatives.
Clara was preceded in death by her parents and husband, daughter Lisa Ann (John) Cox and siblings, Louis (Belle) Russo, Virginia (Walter) Sagrilla, Mary (Robert) Bowman, and Benny (Linda) Russo. She is survived by her sister Tresa of Benicia, CA, her sons Kenneth (Victoria) Conner and Daniel (Holly) Conner, grandchildren Rena (Steve) Peddicord, Kasie (Brian) Baverso, Amanda Cox, Lauren Conner, Fiona Conner, and Ava Conner, great-grandchildren Cody (Sara), Molly (Mike), William, and Connor, great-great-grandchildren Colbie, Cassie, Emersyn, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675.
Friends will be received at William F. Gross Funeral Home, LTD., 11735 Frankstown Rd. (at Rodi Rd.) Penn Hills, on Monday, January 2, 2023 from 3 until the time of closing prayers at 7 p.m. A private burial will take place at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.