Leona DeBerti

Leona "Kate" Catherine DeBerti, 71, of 1532 Garden Drive, Franklin, died at 9:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at her residence. Born Jan. 11, 1937, in Montgomery Twp., Indiana County, she was the daughter of the late Michael Freno and Mary Snyder. Mrs. DeBerti was employed as a UPS clerk and retired in 1993 after working for 15 years. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Elks Ladies Golf League and Elks Ladies Bowling League. She enjoyed gardening and playing cards. Mrs. DeBerti was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother; she loved her grandchildren. She was married May 2, 1959 to Ronald E. DeBerti who survives. Mrs. DeBerti is also survived by three children, Michael Edwin DeBerti and his wife, Catherine, of Grand Rapid, Mich.; Michele Kay Maughn and her husband, Robert, of Erie; Ronda Lee Ekis and her husband, Daniel, of Franklin; and eight grandchildren, Zachary, Matthew, Marcus and Megan Maughn, of Erie; Kaitlin and Sarah DeBerti, of Michigan; and Emerson and Ava Ekis of Franklin. She is also survived by a sister, Mary Ann Nemergut of Allen Park, Mich., and a brother, Joseph Freno and his wife, Dorothy, of Chesterland, Ohio. Mrs. DeBerti was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and six sisters. There will be a private visitation. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Church with Msgr. John Herbein officiating. Interment will be at St. Francis Cemetery in Rossiter. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be sent online at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com