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Memorial Keepers (1)
Farley Funeral Homes and Crematory - Venice
Mary Steele Bilzi
January 26th, 1948 - January 15th, 2025
Mary Steele was born in Latrobe, PA and was the first daughter of Dean and Alyce Steele of New Alexandria, PA. Mary attended school in the Derry Area School District and was active in many activities and played clarinet in the High School Marching Band. Following graduation from high school in 1965, she attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education in 1969.
Mary started her first-grade teaching career in the Greensburg-Salem School District at an elementary school only two miles from her childhood home. In 1975 she took a sabbatical from teaching to pursue an advance degree at Penn State. While at Penn State she met her soulmate and future husband Alan (Al) Bilzi. Following graduation in 1977 she returned to her teaching career.
Mary and Al were married in July 1982 at her hometown church in New Alexandria, PA less than a mile from her childhood home. They lived in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburg for 10 years while she continued her teaching career and Al founded and managed several environmental companies. She and Al were members of Youghiogheny Country Club in McKeesport, PA and played a lot of golf in their spare times.
Mary retired from teaching in June 1992 after Al sold his environmental businesses and they decided to build a winter home in Venice, FL. near Al's father. They had visited Venice many times over the years and fell in love with the small town feel of Venice. For the next 30 years they continued to live in Venice and enjoyed traveling, playing golf, boating, and enjoyed spending time with their many friends in the area. They were former members of the Venice Golf and Country Club in Sarasota and the Venice Yacht Club.
Mary was an avid football fan and attended her first Pittsburg Steelers game with her father at age 9. She and Al were avid fans and supporters of Penn State football, having had season tickets for over 30 years and a seasonal home in State College, PA. Mary also supported the Penn State Women's Golf Team, traveling around the country to watch the team compete in tournaments and establishing the Mary Steele Bilzi Women's Golf Excellence Endowment.
Mary is survived by her soulmate and husband Al and numerous loving family members. No local funeral ceremonies are planned as her cremains will be interned alongside her parents in New Alexandria, PA later this year. Donations to Tidewell Hospice in her loving memory would be graciously appreciated.
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We Entrusted Mary Bilzi's Care To
Farley Funeral Homes and Crematory - Venice
Since the 1880s, Farley Funeral Homes and Crematory in Venice has stood as a sanctuary of solace, reflecting over a century of tradition in guiding families through the poignant process of farewell and celebration. Our story, deeply woven into the community's fabric, began in 1883 when the Farley family opened their first funeral home. With a heartfelt mission to help families navigate the grief of loss and to celebrate the legacies of their loved ones, we have built a legacy of compassionate care that has endured across the ages....
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