Cynthia Amelia Bratich

April 14, 1957 - April 3, 2018

Cynthia Amelia Bratich, 60, of Raccoon Township, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, died on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at Heritage Valley Hospital in Beaver, Pennsylvania. Born in Rochester, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 1957, she was the beloved daughter of Bessie Vignovich Bratich and the late Dan Bratich. She was the cherished niece of Mike (Mitch) Vignovich, her maternal uncle, and the treasured sister of Joyce Bratich-Cherif and Daniel Bratich, and Daniel’s wife, Pamela (Penny) Oaks Bratich. She is lovingly remembered by her two nephews, Daniel Cherif and Michael Cherif, and by the following first cousins and their spouses: Diane Vignovich Wosotowsky and the late Edward Wosotowsky; Nadine Vignovich Docherty and Patrick Docherty; Amy Vignovich Worfel and William Worfel; and Fred Vignovich, Jr. and Barbara Klami Vignovich. She held a special place in the hearts of many people, especially Kuma Linda Mraovich Sampson and her husband, Bob Sampson; Kumovi Eli Polovina and Bonnie Trueman Polovina; and her faithful, dedicated and caring aide, Kim Stanford. She was beloved by many other kumovi and long-time friends of the family. In addition to her father, Cynthia was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Smilja Divic Vignovich, and by her maternal uncle and aunt, Fred Vignovich, Sr. and Bertha Grubich Vignovich, all of whom loved her dearly. The family held private funeral services on Monday, April 9, 2018, at the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc., in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and at the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa. Protopresbyter Stavrophor Dr. Rodney Torbic and Reverend Father Branislav Golic officiated. Interment followed at the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cemetery in Hopewell Township, Aliquippa. Cynthia became severely brain damaged in 1958, at the young age of 14 months, due to a medical error that occurred during an operation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite this, and because of the unswerving and constant devotion and love of her mother, she was able to live a happy and content life, notwithstanding her neurological and physical disabilities. She was a blessing and a joy to her mother and to all who knew her. Her tender spirit, her laughter, her smile, her goodness, her affection for all whom she encountered, and her strength and bravery, especially when she was gravely ill during the last two years and four months of her life, set an example for all. The family would like to thank the staff at the New Horizon School, Beaver, Pennsylvania, and the staff at the HAP Enterprises Adult Center, now located in Rochester, Pennsylvania, for the kindness shown to Cynthia during the many years she was in attendance. The family is grateful for the support of their kumovi and the many friends, old and new, who cared deeply about her. Cynthia will remain in our hearts and minds forever. If ever there were an angel, it was she. May her memory be eternal. Vecnaja Pamjat.