Antoinette Niro, 87, of Speers Hill, Charleroi, passed away on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, at Mon Valley Care Center. Born in Naples, Italy, on Nov. 25, 1934, a daughter of Carmine and Maria Ricciardi Merola. Antoinette was retired from Charland Sportswear. She was a member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Charleroi and was a member of Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, where she had made more than 200 rosaries a month. Antoinette was a wonderful cook, always preparing one of her Italian dishes. She loved baking her homemade bread and was known by everyone for her pizzelle cookies. She loved spending time with her family and adored her three granddaughters and just recently celebrated the birth of her new great-grandson, born on August 6. Antoinette was married to the love of her life, Anthony “Tony” Niro, who passed on Nov. 15, 2011. They had celebrated 55 wonderful years of marriage. She was a kind and loving person, putting others’ needs before her own. She will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her. Left to cherish her memory are her son and daughter-in-law Joseph and Karen Niro of Rostraver Township; three granddaughters, all of Rostraver Township, Joelle (Dale) Fisher, Jocelyn (Chris) Nelson and Jillian Niro (fiancé, Brendan DelBianco); great-grandson, Hayes Edward Fisher; a brother, Andrew (Tilda) Merola of Penn Hills; sister, Carmela Rihn of Boston, Mass.; nieces, Lisa (Chuck) McCrosson of Boston, Mass., and Melissa (Vince) Penkrot of Penn Hills; nephew, Mark (Amber) Merola of Penn Hills; great-niece and great-nephews, Charlie and Sara McCrosson, Nicholas Penkrot and Marky Merola; and many relatives in Italy. Besides her husband, she was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Jim Rihn. Visitation will be held from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at MELENYZER FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATION SERVICES INC. 825 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Charleroi with the Rev. Gerald Mikonis as celebrant. Entombment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. The family would like to thank the OSTPA Hospice staff and the third floor staff at Mon Valley Care Center. Online condolences may be expressed at www.melenyzer.com.
