Obituary

Marie Antoinette Cerni received eternal rest at her home in Irvine, California on November 15, 2017. Marie was born December 21, 1916, in Youngstown, Ohio the daughter of Nicholas and Catherine (Daily) Billett. Marie married her loving husband Joseph Cerni on June 22, 1941.

She leaves her children Michele Cerni of Youngstown, Ohio; Kate (Charles) Sweeney of Reno Nevada; Dr. Joseph S. Cerni of Irvine, California and Dr. Michael (Zara) Cerni of Laguna Niguel, California; grandchildren Jennifer Sweeney of Sacramento, California; Christopher Cerni of Spring City, Pennsylvania; Adriana (Brandon) Godsey of Columbus, Ohio; and Erin Sweeney of Portland, Oregon along with great grandchildren Destiny, Ryder and Shain Cerni and Samuel, Trinity and Graziana Godsey; sister, Phyllis Peterson of Springfield, Virginia; brother-in-law, Sam Cerni of Brookfield, Ohio and sisters-in-law, Thomasina Yourga of Hermitage, Pennsylvania and Rita Billett of Columbia, South Carolina and many Cerni and Billett nieces and nephews.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joseph; brothers William Billett, Anthony Billett, James Billett and Donald Billett.

Marie was a long-time resident of Youngstown, Ohio and was graduated from Boardman High School in 1934. Marie opened and operated her own hair salon for several years. Though her first priority was being a loving wife and mother, Marie was very active with local chapters of the American Cancer Society and Easter Seals and involved in several local social organizations and clubs. Marie loved cooking and took great delight in entertaining family and friends with her homemade treats. In 1988, she and her husband began several years of commuting between homes in Ohio and California finally settling in Orange County, California in 1997.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on November 27, 2017 in Irvine, California. There will be no calling hours. Marie will be interred beside her husband at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Nellie’s Champions for Kids (www.nc4k.org), a nonprofit organization helping pediatric cancer patients: NC4K, 374 Morrison Road, Suite C, Columbus, Ohio 43213.