Dorothy Leona Yaus Cuonzo, age 94 years, a former resident of Parsons, WV and Hoopeston, IL and more recently a resident of Chesterland, OH where she made her home with her daughter and son in law, Michelle A. and Tom Seaman, departed this life early Saturday morning, February 22, 2014 at her home. She had been in her usual health.
She was born Dorothy Leona Yaus to parents John George and Ida Iona Mosser-Yaus, on August 31, 1919 on Wheeling Island. She was raised as the only child on a hillside in McMechen, WV. She attended the local grade and high school in her town and after she graduated she attended a three year nursing program at Kanawha Valley Nursing School in Charleston, WV.
Dorothy worked for Kanawha Valley Hospital after her graduation and in 1948 she met, fell in love and married her long time husband Dr. Richard A. Cuonzo, who was doing a residency there at the hospital. Together they had three children Valerie, Marilynn and Michelle.
Dorothy and Richard had a very colorful life together, living at first in West Memphis, Arkansas where they both worked for Richard’s father at his small, rural medical clinic. They later moved to Toledo, Ohio for Richard to complete a surgical residency and then back to Arkansas for a short time before moving on to Pineville, Louisiana. They stayed in Louisiana for a year before going back to Arkansas and then in 1961 they pulled up roots and moved to Parsons, WV.
Dorothy’s life was her family. She loved to cook and have friends of the family over for a hearty meal. She spent several years in the role of the homemaker before returning back to work first at Tucker County’s VO-Tech teaching nurse aides and later at the Tucker County Hospital. She spent many years caring for her own parents in her home in Parsons.
Dorothy moved to Hoopeston, Ill with Richard where he worked until retirement from his surgical practice. In 2005 she and Richard moved to Chesterland, Ohio to be close to family in their elder years.
Dorothy is survived by: her daughter, Valerie Cuonzo of Lakewood, CA and her children Angela Simmons of Morgantown, WV, Joelle Simmons of Lakewood, CA, and Zachary Cuonzo who is currently in the US Army and stationed in Grovetown, Georgia. Daughter Marilynn Cuonzo of Elkins, WV and her daughter Marielle Gallagher of Bend OR, and daughter Michelle Seaman and her husband Tom Seaman and daughter Stephanie Seaman all of Chesterland, OH.
Dorothy had three great-grandchildren. Angela’s son, Owen Cosner of Morgantown, WV and Zacahry’s children Kristen Michelle and Colton Michael Cuonzo both of Grovetown, Georgia.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. On Friday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home parlor, a rosary was recited by the Rev. Father Timothy J. Grassi. On Saturday morning, March 1, 2014, Mrs. Cuonzo was moved to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at Parsons, where the Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11:30 a.m. The Rev. Father Timothy J. Grassi was the presider and interment followed at the Parsons City Cemetery at Parsons, WV. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Dorothy Leona Yaus Cuonzo. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
