Lillian Laird

Lillian Pozum Laird, 83, of Belle Vernon, Rostraver Twp., passed away Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at Penn Highlands - Mon Valley, Monongahela.  Born September 12, 1940 in N. Charleroi, PA she was the daughter of the late James W. and Olga Oleynik Pozum.  Her father, James, was the founder and leader of The Blue Danube Tamburitza Orchestra.  Lillian grew up immersed in the Croatian culture and music.  Mrs. Laird was a member of St. Sebastian RC Church, Belle Vernon.  Lillian was a retired garment presser at former Charland Sportswear, Speers and former Union Officer of Charland Sportswear, member of the Croatian Fraternal Union Cokeburg Lodge 354 and St. George Adult Tamburitzans.  When her children were in school, she supported their clubs and extracurricular activities and enjoyed traveling with the Belle Vernon Area High School Band as a band parent chaperone.

She is survived by her two daughters & son in law Eleanor & Artie Shaffer of Geneva, OH, Elaine & Charles Gaertner of Carrboro, NC, sister Dorothy & Negley ‘Ted’ Rodgers, sister in law Joy Pozum, brother in law and sister in law David and Alana Laird, four grandchildren Devastasha (Dominic) Loveland, Leo (Jenna) Beaver, Greta Gaertner, Van Gaertner, six great grandchildren Augusten, Everett, Oscar, Jackson, Olympia, and Sophia, and several loving nieces and nephews who were very important to her.  She is preceded in death by her husband James Laird to whom she was married to for 49 years at the time of his passing, son William 'Bill' Laird, and brother James Pozum Jr.