Eugene 'Gene' Lancas

Eugene 'Gene' Lancas, 69, of Carroll Township, passed away on Monday, June 18, 2018. Born in Pittsburgh on October 3,1948, he was the son of the late Joseph and Lottie Volkavich Lancas. A 1966 graduate of Monessen High School, Gene was a guidance counselor for 39 years at Belle Vernon Area High School, where he helped to shape the futures of many young men and women who remember him fondly. But perhaps Gene was best known for his extraordinary musical talent. He was the founder and director of Pro Musica Men's Choir, whose voices blessed the weddings of hundreds of Mon Valley couples. He also directed the choir of the former Most Holy Name of Jesus Church in Monessen. His greatest musical love was his choir at Saint Sebastian Church, his parish for the past 27 years and his Belle Vernon Ministerium choir. Gene created the annual Service of Lessons and Carols that joined voices from many local churches to proclaim the true meaning of Christmas. Gene was an avid sports fan of the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, Duquesne Dukes and Rostraver Youth Baseball. But above all, he was a beloved husband, father and pappy. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Paula Shuma Lancas, with whom he would have celebrated 40 years of marriage on July 8; his daughter and son-in-law, Kristen and John Manley of Belle Vernon and their sons Max and Mason; his son and daughter-in-law Eugene and Allison Lancas of Jefferson Hills and their children Addalyn and Grayson; a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, James and Linda Harvey of Mount Lebanon, and Tina Shaban of Chapel Hill, NC; six nieces and nephews, Ryan, Matthew and Christina Shaban and Allison, JW and Abigail Harvey; and an aunt Angela Lancas of Monessen.

Visitation will be held Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Parzynski Funeral Home & Cremations, Family Owned and Operated, 626 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon 724-929-6183.  Prayers of Transfer will be held Friday at 9:30 am in the funeral home followed by funeral mass at 10:00 am at St. Sebastian R.C. Church with Msgr. Roger A. Statnick and Rev. Francisco R. Gan Jr. Pastor as co-celebrants.  Interment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery, Pricedale.  Members of St. Sebastian Parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Eugene Lancas Thursday at 3 pm in the funeral home.