May 13, 2002 2 min read

Bessie G. Shaffer Sembower, 74, of Connellsville, Pa., passed away Friday, May 10, 2002, in Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa. She was born February 18, 1928, in Connellsville, Pa., daughter of John W. Shaffer and Bertha M. Albright Shaffer.

Bessie was presently employed by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Agency in Greensburg, Pa., as a Sales Agent. She was a Multi-Million Dollar Producer and third top listing seller in 2001.

She was also a member of the Fayette Board of Realtors.

Bessie was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church, Connellsville, the Connellsville Historical Society, Breakneck Chapter of the Fayette County Sportsmens League, Connellsville PTA Council, and was past District Nine Treasurer and Aide.

She was also a member of the Connellsville Area School District Board of Directors who served from 1983 to 1993. During her term she served as Vice President in 1986 and then moved to President in 1987 and 1988.

She was also Director for the North Fayette Area Vocational-Technical School for nine years (from 1989 to 1993).

Mrs. Sembower was also instrumental in the organization of the Connellsville Community Center in 1971.

She was an active member of the Fayette County Democratic Party.

She was formerly employed by the Kelly Meat Packing Company and also had been a Buyer and Head of the Dry Goods Department for the Union Supply Company of Davidson.

Her husband, Robert G. Sembower, died in 1984. Also deceased are a brother, Edward Shaffer, and her parents.

She is survived by four sons: William L. Sembower, Donald G. Sembower, Joseph M. Sembower, and Lance R. Sembower and his wife, Lisa, all of Connellsville, Pa.; three daughters: Belinda Sue and her husband, Chris Evans, of Hercules, California, Karen Lee Sembower and her husband, Mike L. Aiton, of Point Marion, Pa., and Deborah Ann Sembower of Long Beach, California; eight grandchildren: Toby Sembower, Lindsy Sembower, Carley Sembower, Mariah Sembower, Chris Evans II, Julia Evans, Natalie Evans, and Vanessa Schell; and two great grandchildren: Sydney Schell and Jonathon Schell; a brother, Robert Shaffer and his wife, Ruth, of Morrisville, Pa.; two sisters: Mrs. Lawrence (Margaret) Rendine of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and Lucy Welch and her husband, Lewis, of Scottdale, Pa.

Friends will be received in the VITO C. MARTUCCI FUNERAL HOME, 123 South First Street, West Side, Connellsville, Pa., today and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, May 15, until 11 a.m., the hour of Service with Rev. Elmer Reamer officiating.

Interment will follow in Hill Grove Cemetery.