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Thresa M. Yerman

February 07, 1929 - March 03, 2026

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Obituary For Thresa M. Yerman

Thresa Marie (Garland) Yerman, age 97, passed on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, of Whitehall.
Wife of the late John F. Yerman Jr. “Jack” for 64 years; mother of John F. (Rosanne) Yerman III, Kathryn V. (Ken) Finney, and Joseph A. Yerman “Jay”; grandmother of Trina Finney, Jennica (Dave) Brodeur and Alaina Finney; great-grandmother of Callum and Latham Brodeur; daughter of the late Joseph A. and Rachel Garland; sister of Angela Lardo and the late Anthony “Texas Tony,” Frank, Joe, and Chuck (survived by Dianne). Sister-in-law to Alexander (Ellen) Yerman, and Virginia (Howard) Mains. Niece of the late Peggy Colucci. Loving aunt to more than 20.

Thresa graduated from Westinghouse High School in 1947, where she energized school spirit as a well-loved cheerleader who enthusiastically supported the athletic teams. She later graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Saint Francis School of Nursing and began her career in industrial medicine before continuing in hospital and senior care settings. During one early assignment, she worked with the polio patients of Dr. Jonas Salk and fondly recalled walking past the monkey enclosure outside the laboratory, pausing to watch them play.

She married Jack after meeting him at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, where he worked as a mechanical engineer from Carnegie Tech and she served in the company’s medical home appliance department.

Thresa was deeply involved in the community, serving in leadership roles including president of the Overlook Elementary School PTA, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Registered Nurses Club, and the Whitehall Green Thumbers Garden Club. She also served as a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop, and was an active member of the Christian Mothers of St. Gabriel Church.

She volunteered extensively throughout her life. With Whitehall Library staff, she visited local senior care homes to sing, read, and brighten residents’ days. She also volunteered at Jefferson Hospital for over 20 years, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister in Spiritual Care and was honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for 4,015 hours of service. Thresa also enjoyed volunteering as a welcoming and engaging usher at downtown Pittsburgh theaters for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for 27 years. She and Jack held season tickets to Pittsburgh’s Broadway Series for more than 30 years and loved traveling throughout the United States and abroad.

She delighted in preparing large, weekly family meals and baking for those she loved. Her dinner rolls and homemade pastas were legendary, bar none. Her passion for knitting continued beyond her 97th birthday, creating countless beautiful and practical beanie caps, mittens, and scarves for her friends and family.

Friends will be received at the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc., 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood, PA 15227, on Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral prayer on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Hope Parish, St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Church.

In lieu of flowers, please take a friend to lunch and enjoy time together in Thresa’s honor. Memorial donations may be made to the Southwestern Pennsylvania RN Club Educational Fund at https://swparnclub.weebly.com/

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Condolences

  • March 15, 2026

    Carol Palatucci

    My deepest sympathies! I meet Thresa at St. Gabriel's. She was a beautiful person inside and out. We volunteered many events together. May she rest in peace. 🙏❤️

  • March 12, 2026

    Vivian and Don Duncan

    My husband Don and I volunteered with this lovely lady. She always had a smile and was helpful to the patrons of the arts as well as the new ushers. She knew a lot of people and was happy to greet them to the theatre. She also knew many of the subscribers and where their seats were. Always quick to help others and truly enjoyed encouraging the children to enjoy the arts. She would mention how nice they looked and that she knew they were going to enjoy the show. Our heartfelt sympathies to her many family, friends, colleagues and volunteers who will miss her dearly. Forever in our hearts. Vivian and Don Duncan

  • March 12, 2026

    Pat Young

    Thresa was a good friend that was kind to everyone she encountered. I volunteered with her for MANY years at St GABE'S. She will be truly missed by many.

  • March 11, 2026

    Elissa Waldron

    Sending sympathies and prayers and highlighting that I only had the opportunity to meet your mom John one time but such a wonderful woman and I was one of the lucky ones to sample her baking and delicious pastas. What an amazing life she had and what a giver to the community and to all who she touched. God speed.♥️

  • March 09, 2026

    Keri Vaughman

    I volunteered with your mom at the Benedum for many years. She was always so cheerful and upbeat. She was a gracious woman who made everyone a friend. My sympathies to all of her family. Keri Baughman

  • March 09, 2026

    Leslie Smith

    Sorry for your loss, I volunteered with her for years at Benedum. She was always peppy 🙂

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