Funeral arrangements, extended viewing set for fallen state trooper
A Pennsylvania state trooper killed in a crash early Friday will get an extended visitation Sunday and Monday before his funeral services and burial Tuesday.
Michael P. Stewart III, 26, of Unity, died when his state police SUV collided with a garbage truck around 2:20 a.m. on Route 711 in Ligonier Township. Another trooper in his SUV was injured, and the truck driver was unhurt. The investigation into the crash was ongoing as of Saturday.
Visitation hours at John J. Lopatich Funeral Home were extended from three sessions of two hours each to two sessions totaling eight hours, from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, funeral director Jason Brinker said.
“There's a big family, beyond the ‘family' of state police, and they'll be coming from all over the state,” said the Rev. Robert Byrnes, chaplain to the Greensburg barracks and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 62.
In his capacity as chaplain, Byrnes said he's been stopping in at the barracks during roll calls to be available to troopers who knew Stewart. He'd last seen Stewart himself on Wednesday morning — a rarity, since Stewart usually worked night shift.
“I've known him since he was a lad of 14; he was in the Camp Cadet program,” Byrnes said. “I got reacquainted with him in the academy. He was just a good guy, easy to talk to, had a good sense of humor. ... You couldn't help liking him.”
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 62 will hold a memorial service at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, 601 Weldon St., Latrobe, said Ronald Zona, lodge president.
“Working in our profession, our partners become family to us and a tragic event like this can shake you to your core and make us all realize how fragile life is,” Zona said.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Family Church, 1200 Ligonier St., Latrobe, with interment to follow at Unity Cemetery. Byrnes will be a co-celebrant, and Bishop Edward C. Malesic is expected to attend.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Troopers Helping Troopers Foundation at 3625 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724 836 6660, msantoni@tribweb.com or on Twitter @msantoni.
