Delrose Marie Jones, age 97, passed away peacefully at Maple Valley Personal Care Home in Indiana, PA on Monday, April 20, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Delrose was born on August 10, 1928 to her parents Herman Clement Ager and Evelyn (Ragley) Ager in Nicktown, PA. She attended grade school at St. Nicholas School, and she graduated in 1946 from Spangler High School. Delrose then sought employment at Federal Laboratories in Tunnelton in order to earn money for nursing school. She caught the train daily at the Indiana Train Station, and worked in Tunnelton as a “bomb girl” for America’s military effort – her job was to insert firing pins into grenades on an assembly line. Delrose then attended and graduated from Indiana Hospital School of Nursing in 1949. She worked as a nurse at the Indiana Hospital from 1949 until April 28, 1951, when she married her husband, Eugene Harvey Jones. She then went on to raise her five children while also volunteering with The American Red Cross Disaster Team and Red Cross Blood Mobiles, and as a School Nurse and instructor at the Indiana Hospital’s Candy Striper program. Delrose was a member of St Thomas More University Parish and the VFW, and she was an Indiana Hospital Auxiliary Member.
Delrose was a supporting and loving wife to her husband of 51 years, Eugene, and a nurturing mother that taught her five children to think for themselves. She was a generous and welcoming hostess, and she loved opening her home to family and friends – you were always greeted with a warm meal and dessert if you stopped over to her house. A longtime member of St Thomas More University Parish, Delrose’s strong faith carried her through her daily life, and she shared that faith with others by her example. She cared strongly for and protected the weak and marginalized, she was generous with her time in volunteering and helping others in need, and she consistently acted with care, compassion, and a sense of justice. Delrose was patient, wise, dependable, and a life-long mentor for her family – spending time with her grandchildren was her biggest love. Her home remained the family gathering place for decades, whether it be for holidays, weekend sleepovers, or impromptu visits when her grandkids needed advice or just wanted to hear her laugh. Delrose’s witty sense of humor endeared her to family and friends alike, and you could always depend on her for a laugh when you needed it most. Delrose also enjoyed gardening, cooking, home improvement projects, and following the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers.
Delrose was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Eugene H. Jones, her son Marvin E. Jones, her son-in-law Mark R. Moore, and her infant great-grandson Nathan Jones. She was the last surviving of her six siblings and their spouses: Sr. Mary Margaret Berchmans; Clem (Rita) Ager; Clair (Delores) Ager; Ruth (Mike) Gomish; Leona (Paul) Ambrosko; and Stanton (Martha) Ager.
Delrose is survived by her loving children: Susan Moore, Ellwood City, PA; Bonnie (Richard) Crisp, Fairhope, AL; Donna Jones, Home, PA; and Cathy (John) Pettina, Indiana, PA.
She is also survived by her 12 grandchildren: William (Lynda) Jones, Pinedale, WY; Jeremy Jones, Tampa, FL; Katie Jones, Tampa, FL; Stacey (Greg) Krugh, Ellwood City, PA; Michael (April) Moore, Mars, PA; David (Megan) Moore, Ellwood City, PA; MacAdam (Bethany) Crisp, Highland Village, TX; Douglas (Betsy) Crisp, Foley, AL; Kara Crisp, Portland, OR; Lisa (Bill) Thornton, Greensburg, PA; Jay (Tori) Pettina, Gulf Shores, AL; and Alex (Victoria) Pettina, Indiana, PA.
Additionally, Delrose is survived by her 15 great-grandchildren: Lauren and Natalie Jones, Samson Brend, Madison and Gracie Krugh, Evan and Emily Moore, Marco and Marina Moore, Logan and Will Crisp, Vaughn Crisp, Maxwell and Molly Thornton, and Jonah Pettina.
Delrose’s family would like to thank the dream teams at Maple Valley Personal Care Home, where she was treated like family, for all of their care, love, and respect over the years. They would also like to thank 365 Hospice Care for their exceptional guidance and support for the family. Delrose’s family would also like to make special mention of the following groups that were near and dear to Delrose’s heart: Table #1 at St Thomas More, and the community of women on McKnight Road that bonded to form a safe haven to raise their children together.
A private funeral service will be handled by the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory at a later date.
Memorial donations would be appreciated and can be made to the IRMC Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, which will benefit students volunteering at IRMC that plan to pursue a degree in the medical field:
IRMC Auxiliary Scholarship Fund
Attn: Administration
835 Hospital Drive
Indiana, PA 15701
Delrose Marie Jones, age 97, passed away peacefully at Maple Valley Personal Care Home in Indiana, PA on Monday, April 20, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Delrose was born on August 10, 1928 to her parents Herman Clement Ager and Evelyn (Ragley) Ager in Nicktown, PA. She attended grade school at St. Nicholas School, and she graduated in 1946 from Spangler High School. Delrose then sought employment at Federal Laboratories in Tunnelton in order to earn money for nursing school. She caught the train daily at the Indiana Train Station, and worked in Tunnelton as a “bomb girl” for America’s military effort – her job was to insert firing pins into grenades on an assembly line. Delrose then attended and graduated from Indiana Hospital School of Nursing in 1949. She worked as a nurse at the Indiana Hospital from 1949 until April 28, 1951, when she married her husband, Eugene Harvey Jones. She then went on to raise her five children while also volunteering with The American Red Cross Disaster Team and Red Cross Blood Mobiles, and as a School Nurse and instructor at the Indiana Hospital’s Candy Striper program. Delrose was a member of St Thomas More University Parish and the VFW, and she was an Indiana Hospital Auxiliary Member.
Delrose was a supporting and loving wife to her husband of 51 years, Eugene, and a nurturing mother that taught her five children to think for themselves. She was a generous and welcoming hostess, and she loved opening her home to family and friends – you were always greeted with a warm meal and dessert if you stopped over to her house. A longtime member of St Thomas More University Parish, Delrose’s strong faith carried her through her daily life, and she shared that faith with others by her example. She cared strongly for and protected the weak and marginalized, she was generous with her time in volunteering and helping others in need, and she consistently acted with care, compassion, and a sense of justice. Delrose was patient, wise, dependable, and a life-long mentor for her family – spending time with her grandchildren was her biggest love. Her home remained the family gathering place for decades, whether it be for holidays, weekend sleepovers, or impromptu visits when her grandkids needed advice or just wanted to hear her laugh. Delrose’s witty sense of humor endeared her to family and friends alike, and you could always depend on her for a laugh when you needed it most. Delrose also enjoyed gardening, cooking, home improvement projects, and following the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers.
Delrose was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Eugene H. Jones, her son Marvin E. Jones, her son-in-law Mark R. Moore, and her infant great-grandson Nathan Jones. She was the last surviving of her six siblings and their spouses: Sr. Mary Margaret Berchmans; Clem (Rita) Ager; Clair (Delores) Ager; Ruth (Mike) Gomish; Leona (Paul) Ambrosko; and Stanton (Martha) Ager.
Delrose is survived by her loving children: Susan Moore, Ellwood City, PA; Bonnie (Richard) Crisp, Fairhope, AL; Donna Jones, Home, PA; and Cathy (John) Pettina, Indiana, PA.
She is also survived by her 12 grandchildren: William (Lynda) Jones, Pinedale, WY; Jeremy Jones, Tampa, FL; Katie Jones, Tampa, FL; Stacey (Greg) Krugh, Ellwood City, PA; Michael (April) Moore, Mars, PA; David (Megan) Moore, Ellwood City, PA; MacAdam (Bethany) Crisp, Highland Village, TX; Douglas (Betsy) Crisp, Foley, AL; Kara Crisp, Portland, OR; Lisa (Bill) Thornton, Greensburg, PA; Jay (Tori) Pettina, Gulf Shores, AL; and Alex (Victoria) Pettina, Indiana, PA.
Additionally, Delrose is survived by her 15 great-grandchildren: Lauren and Natalie Jones, Samson Brend, Madison and Gracie Krugh, Evan and Emily Moore, Marco and Marina Moore, Logan and Will Crisp, Vaughn Crisp, Maxwell and Molly Thornton, and Jonah Pettina.
Delrose’s family would like to thank the dream teams at Maple Valley Personal Care Home, where she was treated like family, for all of their care, love, and respect over the years. They would also like to thank 365 Hospice Care for their exceptional guidance and support for the family. Delrose’s family would also like to make special mention of the following groups that were near and dear to Delrose’s heart: Table #1 at St Thomas More, and the community of women on McKnight Road that bonded to form a safe haven to raise their children together.
A private funeral service will be handled by the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory at a later date.
Memorial donations would be appreciated and can be made to the IRMC Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, which will benefit students volunteering at IRMC that plan to pursue a degree in the medical field:
IRMC Auxiliary Scholarship Fund
Attn: Administration
835 Hospital Drive
Indiana, PA 15701
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