Iola Staff Grant, 86, of North Sewickley Township, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Brighton Township.
Born in North Sewickley Township on February 23, 1933, Iola was the daughter of the late John A. and B. Wilda Collins Staff, Sr. A lifetime member of North Sewickley Presbyterian Church, Iola was considered the unofficial church historian. Iola graduated from Lincoln High School in 1950 and Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1954. She spent her first years as a teacher in the former Evans City School District. In 1996 Iola retired from the Riverside Beaver County School District where she taught elementary grades for thirty years. Her favorite quote was from the late teacher and astronaut, Christa McAuliffe: “I touch the future; I teach.” In her spare time, Iola enjoyed reading, especially about history and Old English history, and doing embroidery work. Time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren, were her favorite times.
Iola is survived by her three children; David and Brenda Grant of Aliquippa, Rayanne Grant of North Sewickley Township, Scott and Laura Grant of Squirrel Hill, three grandchildren; Robert and Stephanie Grant, Michele Grant and David Book, and Aaron Grant, a great-grandson, Oliver Grant, a sister-in-law, JoAnne Staff of Tampa, FL and three nieces; Barbara Jo Staff, Janis Greene and Jill Aikens.
In addition to her parents, Iola was preceded in death by a brother, John A. Staff, Jr.
Friends will be received on Thursday, March 21st from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Joseph A. Tomon, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 97 Grim Avenue, Ellport.
Friends will also be received on Friday, March 22nd from 10:00 AM until the time of the funeral service with Pastor Nathan J. Loudon at 11:00 AM at North Sewickley Presbyterian Church, 106 Chapel Drive, Ellwood City. Interment will follow in North Sewickley Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made in Iola’s name to Presbyterian Disaster Relief, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
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