Jeannette Canterna never lost her charitable spirit, boundless energy and British etiquette, family members said.
Mrs. Canterna, 86, of Irwin, died on Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, after a brief bout with cancer.
A London native who immigrated to the United States by ship in 1949, Mrs. Canterna worked as a beautician and salon manager in Gimbels Downtown, then later in store locations in the Eastland Mall in North Versailles and Greengate Mall in Hempfield, said her son, Mark Bolla.
“In later years ... she ended up visiting retirement homes and, for free, doing people's hair there,” Bolla said. “That was kind of her charity work.”
Mrs. Canterna's proper English accent never diminished over her six decades in Pennsylvania, nor did her traditional manners, which meant she always thanked people with handwritten notes, said daughter-in-law Tania Bolla.
Mrs. Canterna was among a few surviving members of the Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association, a social club for British transplants to have tea and to honor their roots, Bolla said.
Energetic and independent, Mrs. Canterna lived alone after her husband, William Canterna, died almost exactly three years ago.
“Nobody could mess with her. She could take care of herself and her own business affairs,” said Bolla.
Mrs. Canterna was a shopaholic who outpaced family members on a trip to McKinney, Texas, in October to visit relatives there, Bolla said.
But shortly after Mrs. Canterna returned home, she began to feel ill, Mark Bolla said.
Doctors discovered she had advanced abdominal cancer and she died a few days later, he said.
“I thought my mom was indestructible,” Mark Bolla said. The birthday gift he gave her last month — tickets to see Donny and Marie Osmond at Consol Energy Center next month — were still on her night stand.
In addition to Mark and Tania Bolla, she is survived by son Steven Bolla, of Buford, Ga., brother Charles Mills, stepbrother Martin Mills, six grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in William Snyder Funeral Home, 521 Main St. in Irwin. Parting prayers will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with a funeral Mass following at 9:30 a.m. in Church of the Immaculate Conception.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Attn: Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265 or the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
Kari Andren is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-850-2856 or kandren@tribweb.com.
