ADVERTISING
Philomena DeSimone
Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | August 08, 2025
How do you summarize an amazing life story in just a few paragraphs?
Born Filomena Mastrobattista on August 12, 1932, in Lenola, Italy, to Cesare Mastrobattista and Elena Lo Stocco, Filomena was the younger of two daughters, loved by her sister Elisa.
In her small mountain village, our Mom grew up sewing with the nuns, playing with friends, and helping her family rebuild after the devastation of World War II. At 17, she married the love of her life, Antonio, and soon followed him to America. Our Mom arrived in New York Harbor on her first daughter’s first birthday, hoping to live the American Dream with our father by her side.
From their Italian homeland to their American home in Glassport, Pennsylvania, our Mom and Dad walked life’s path together with courage, determination, and love, raising six children who carry forward their legacy.
Our Mom worked as a seamstress and later spent 39 years in the South Allegheny High School cafeteria, becoming a familiar, friendly face to generations of students.
Our Mom’s life was defined by her devotion to family, her deep faith, and her unwavering kindness. She was a member of Queen of the Rosary Church and the Christian Mother’s Guild.
Our Mom was beautiful, funny, inquisitive and extremely wise. She often said her greatest accomplishment was us, her children — and we feel the same about her. The values and traditions she and our father shared with us will live on, especially our favorite family holiday of Christmas Eve.
Philomena is survived by her children Josephine (Mike) Tutro, Elena (Tom) Milczarczyk, Antonette (Gary) Cain, Linda (Larry) Kaczka, Anthony DeSimone, and Lisa DeSimone; nine grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Antonio, her baby boy Anthony, her parents, Cesare Mastrobattista and Elena Lo Stocco, and her sister, Elisa.
We love her deeply and will miss her every day.
We will gather to honor and celebrate her remarkable life on Tuesday August 12th from 3-8pm at the Wojciechowksi Funeral Home, Glassport. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday10am at Queen of the Rosary with Father Tom Burke. Entombment following at New St. Joseph Cemetery, North Versailles.
Originally published August 08, 2025.
Other deaths:
"Carl T. Beedle" ||