Twyla June (Parisi) Baccanti

     Twyla June “Babe” Parisi Baccanti, 91, of Chicora, passed away peacefully Monday morning, June 5, 2017, while being lovingly cared for at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.

     Twyla was born in Chicora on June 22, 1925.  She was the youngest daughter of the late Joseph and Eugenia “Jennie” Responts Parisi.

     Twyla was one of 18 members of the 1943 graduating class of Millerstown (Chicora) High School.  After graduation she attended Butler Business College until 1945 at which time she started her first job at Franklin Plate Glass in Butler.

     Twyla married  Leo Baccanti of Chicora on November 15, 1947.  At this time she also became his business partner in the family-owned and operated business “Western Auto” located in the Central Hotel Building on Main Street in Chicora.  Leo and Twyla owned and operated this business until Leo’s untimely death on July 23, 1980.  Twyla started working for the original Chicora Senior Center first operated by the Chicora VFW Post in Chicora.  She started out as a cook and then went on to become the site manager after the center was taken over by Lutheran Services of Butler and moved to the Chicora Moose.  Twyla retired from Lutheran Services in the 1990’s, but always cherished the years she spent making a difference in the lives of local seniors.

     During her retirement years, Twyla enjoyed many hours on her sun porch watching and identifying birds feeding at her bird feeder as well as traveling with family on many vacations.  Her favorite destination was Topsail Island, NC.  Twyla walked many miles throughout the years scouring the beach for shells, shark teeth, and other special treasures.  She also enjoyed spending quality time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Twyla is survived by two sons, Dennis Baccanti of Worthington and Mike Baccanti and his wife, Michelle, of Connellsville; two daughters, Janis Skrocki and her husband, Ned, of Butler and Marsha Lipnichan and her husband, Steve, of Chicora; six grandchildren, Amber, Andrew, Joe Corinne, Angelina, and Lexi;  four great grandchildren, Maya Emerson, Isaac Aaron, Julian Andrew, and Leo Pietro; a brother, Larry Parisi and his wife, Marilyn, of Butler, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

     In addition to her parents and husband of 32 years, Twyla was preceded in death by four sisters, Lillian Sheesman, Inez Madden, Thelma Reeder, and an infant sister, Esther; two brothers, Lewis Parisi and an infant brother, Joseph.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday from Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, Chicora, with the Rev. Rick Thompson, church pastor, officiating.  Interment will be at St. Eusebius Cemetery, East Brady.  Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora. For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.

 Service Information