Vera (Bongianino) Zilka

Vera Lorraine (Bongianino) Zilka

Age 98, formerly of Frazer Township, passed away, surrounded by loving family, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Tarentum where she had been living.  Born on March 20, 1925, in Blairsville, PA, she was the daughter of the late Pietro and Francesco (Vidano) Bongianino. 

Vera enjoyed being a homemaker and loved spending time with her family.  She was a member of the former Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Creighton.  Vera was an avid bowler and liked to tend to her many flower gardens.  She was a devoted Frazer Township Brownie Troop leader and member of the Frazer Ladies Auxiliary No. 1 and No. 2.  She also was active on the Frazer Township Democratic Committee. 

She was preceded in death by her late husband of 67 years, Joseph Adam Zilka, her two infant children, Sheila Marie Zilka and Michael Zilka, her grandson, Michael Joseph Zilka, Jr., a brother, Tuillo Bongianino, and her two sisters, Gloria Locati and Shirley Kozub. 

Survivors include her children, Frances (Allen) Jones of Fawn Township, Dolores (Rodney) Wagner of Chippewa Township, Michael Joseph (Mary Ellen) Zilka, Sr. of New Waterford, Ohio, Sylvia (Jeff) Schneider of Tarentum, Sheila Bernardini and companion, Louis Heinle of Natrona Heights, and Perry P.A. (Stacie) Zilka of Cheswick; grandchildren, Sherri Jones and fiancé, Jon McCauley, Lisa (Patrick) Sweeney, Diana Houck, Jason (Kimberly) Wagner, Jonathan (Kristen) Wagner, Keith (Ruzella) Wagner, Kimberly (Steve) Rodgers, Valerie (Jim) Walker, Nicole (J.D.) Rawding, Bryan (Kelsey) Zilka, Joseph Schneider and companion, Christine Rothgeb, Justin Schneider and Brayden Zilka; eighteen great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Nancy (Donald) Fox of Ocala, Florida and Sandy (Matthew) Kline of Alexandria, Virginia. 

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 30, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Paul R. Ajak Funeral Home, 921 Freeport Road, Creighton, PA 15030.  A blessing service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023 in the funeral home by Rev. John Lendvai, Pastor of Guardian Angels Parish.  Burial will follow in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Frazer Township. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Frazer Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, 2020 Bakerstown Road, Tarentum, or Frazer Volunteer Department No. 2, 2129 Butler Logan Road, Tarentum, PA 15084 in her memory.  

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