Oleta Rose (Bliss) Buzzo

On April 27, 2024, Oleta Rose Buzzo passed away peacefully and gained her long-awaited wings. Oleta was well loved, not only by her many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren but by her small-town community as well. Not many folks in town called her Oleta, but instead she was affectionately known as Grandma. Despite caring for a large family with children and stepchildrencoming and going, Oleta was the consummate businesswoman. Long before the song was popularized, Oleta could have coined the phrase "I am Woman, Hear me Roar.”  She was an everyday presence in the businesses she and her husband (Bill J. Buzzo) ran, including a multi-county ambulance service, a trucking company, real estate holdings, convenience stores and many other endeavors through the years. She has washed more sheetsin her lifetime than some linen services. Oleta was a force with which to be reckoned. If you encountered Oleta, you knew she loved her Lord. When she was able, she was sitting in a church pew, singing His praises and living her testimony. If it was Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Christmas service and you were her child, grandchild, step-child (though she never made the distinction), great grandchild, friend to any of these folks or just an “adopted” child within “hollering” distance, you too would be sitting on the bench getting counted as her guests.  Her faith never wavered, and God has surely welcomed home a faithful and devoted servant. Oleta’s extended family was large with his, hers, ours, in-laws and out-laws, but she made the time and had the capacity to love each one in a way that made each person feel special. Love was her commodity and she had plenty to give. She will be missed by so many in so many ways. The love she has left behind in her family speaks to her faith, her love, and her charity. Oleta was preceded in death by her father and mother, Norman and Stella Bliss of Granville; her husband, Billy Joe Buzzo; her daughter, Cathy Smyth; brothers, Norman, and Grover Bliss; and sisters Laura Semanski and Mae Evanto. She is survived by her brothers Earl Bliss and Arthur and Joyce Bliss; children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as follows: son, Bobby Smyth and his wife, Jan, of Travelers Rest, SC, and grandchild, Shonna Whitley and great grandchild Winter Whitley, grandchildren Khristina and Brian Lawler and great grandchildren Tyler and Cady Gonzalez, grandchildren Joseph and Aurora Smyth and great grandchildren Alexander and Kristanna Smyth, Xander Guzorek and Eli Delrio; daughter, Connie Reinacher of Palm Beach, FL and grandchildren, Rachel Reinacher and Frank Delbuno and great grandchild Steven Reinacher and grandchild Jessica Reinacher;  son, Carl Smyth and his wife, Lynn, of Statesville, NC, and grandchildren, Natasha and Tom Marko, great grandchildren Tanner and Penelope Marko and grandchild Sassy Smyth; daughter, Linda McSpadden of Mullens, WV. and grandchild, Russell McSpadden and great grandchild Alyosha McSpadden; daughter, Ramona Frey and her husband, Kip, of Pineville and grandchildren, Kaitlin Frey and Caleb Bailey and grandchild Douglas Frey; daughter, Rebecca Buzzo and her husband, Tracy, of Pineville and grandchildren, Curtis Lovejoy and Mariah Plante, grandchildren Sam and Kayla Lovejoy and great grandchild Fynn Lovejoy, grandchildren Jordan Lovejoy and Michael Gallimore, grandchildren Gracie Lovejoy and AJ Jonesand great grandchildren Zander and Zain Jones and grandchildren Bella and Josh Cameron, grandchildren Tony, Eddie and Gabriel Buzzo, Kimberly and Alexus; grandson, Jason Smyth and Jacqueline Canada of Pineville and great  grandchildren, Christina and Marcus Schofield and great great grandchildren Zaedyn, Zeek, Acia and Ziyas Schofield; great grandchildren Ginger and James Belcher and great great grandchildren Dex and Amayah Smyth, great grandchildren Ashton, Miken, Jazzy and Sadie Smyth, Madison Clark, McKinzie McGraw, and Savannah Smoot ; son, Bill Buzzo Jr. and his wife, Dana, of Bluefield and grandchildren, Debbie and Russell Fasnacht, Shane Buzzo, Tiffany and Erin Smeltzer, Derek Buzzo, BJ Buzzo, Megan Buzzo and Lindsay Buzzo; son, Anthony Buzzo and his wife, Valerie, of Bluefield, and grandchildren, Misty Tomlinson, Khrystal Roberts, AnthonyBuzzo Jr., Justin Shay Buzzo, Shawn Buzzo; son, Frank Buzzo and his wife, Barbie, of Cocoa, Fla., and grandchildren, Alicia and John French, Frank Jr. , Kaelynn and Vinnie Buzzo, and Lisa and Brett Richardson; son, Steve Buzzo and his wife, Susan, of Chicago, Ill. and grandchildren, Samantha, Steven and Sabrina Buzzo; son, Mike Buzzo and his wife, Ann, of Chicago, Il. And grandchildren, Patrick, Maggie, and Kate Buzzo; son, Johnny Buzzo of Chicago, Ill. and grandchildren, Jessica and Angelica Buzzo; son, Billy Buzzo of Pineville, WV; daughter, Jessica Buzzo, of Chicago, Ill. and grandchild, Tiffany Lamas; daughter, Pam and Tom Doan, formerly of Chicago, Ill.  Oleta is also survived by many more great and great-great grand grandchildren. Oleta was fortunate to have numerous generous and faithful caregivers during her extended illness. The family extends a special thank you to Curtis Lovejoy, Samuel Lovejoy, Bella Lovejoy-Cameron, Josh Cameron, Patrisha Hawks, Shay Hall, Braxton Hash, Jason Smyth, Jennifer Farley, Ashley Garretson, Fayetta Steffey, Sherry Tolliver Rutten, Lisa Laxton, Melanie Cook, Janet Morton Janet Milam, Taneka Stoneman, Jamie Blankenship, Andrea Mitchell, Kelly Eller, Billy Buzzo, and JJ Whitt.  Of those caretakers, Rosie Sims cared for Oleta from the beginning of her illness and was especially attentive and loving in her care. Family will meet at the Church of God in Pineville, WV on Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm. The family will receive friends at the church from 4:00 pm until 5:00 pm. A celebration of the life of Oleta will be at 6pm with Reverend Norman Gray and Reverend Carson Gray officiating. Family and friends will meet at the River Church in Morgantown, WV beginning at 10:00 am Monday morning May 6, 2024 Funeral service will start at 11am Interment will immediately follow at the Beverly Hills Cemetery with the Reverend Edwin S. Harper officiating.

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