A funeral service for Joseph E. Sedlak Jr. and Mary Sedlak, his mother, of Miami Lakes, Fla., both formerly of Belle Vernon, will be held at PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME & CREMATIONS LLC, 626 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, PA 15012, on Friday, July 16. Gathering will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a prayer service at 10:30 a.m. Committal at the Belle Vernon Cemetery will follow. Father John Sedlak will preside. No flowers or donations please. Joseph was unmarried and held a doctorate degree in education from the University of Illinois. He developed four college textbooks and made many other contributions in the field of education, holding a variety of positions. Most recently, he worked as an educational specialist in the Department of Exceptional Student Education for the Miami-Dade Public Schools for 26 years, until his retirement in 2015. He died in Miami Lakes, Fla., on March 5, 2021, at the age of 78. Joseph is the son of the late Joseph E. and Mary Stefan Sedlak. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Robert. He is survived by sister-in-law, Denise Ramicone Sedlak; niece, Wendy and nephew, Rob and their families; uncle, Ken Stickle; and many cousins. Joseph’s mother, Mary Sedlak, who lived in his devoted personal care for the last three years of her life, died in Miami Lakes, Fla., on July 21, 2014, at the age of 94. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Anna Sveda Stefan; husband, Joseph; son, Robert; brother, George; and sisters, Theresa Carson and Betty Stickle. She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Denise; and grandchildren, Wendy and Rob and their families; plus nieces and nephews. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website, www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.
