Who: Joseph Fabiani earned a reputation as a dedicated laborer through years of hard work running his repair garage, Fabiani Auto, and a scrap-metal junkyard, tow truck fleet and stonework jobs. The only time the 59-year-old Falls Twp. resident relaxed was while cruising local roads on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle with his wife and No. 1 supporter, Shirley. The 54-year-old homemaker with a kind, soft voice and sweet heart also cared for the couple’s partially paralyzed beagle, Hank, and frequently supported their son, Shane’s, music career. During a June 15 bike ride on Route 292, Joe and Shirley Fabiani suffered critical injuries when they wrecked over a guardrail, possibly to avoid a deer. Joe succumbed to the trauma his vital organs endured, while Shirley’s life was spared thanks to a blood transfusion. Repair to her body is underway through three surgeries so far, though her extensive injuries have included fractures to her vertebrae, ribs, breast bone, pelvis, leg and ankle, as well as a partially collapsed lung and nerve trauma to her eyes.

What/when/where: Donations can be made and updates can be found on the Joe and Shirley Fabiani Facebook page. Checks payable to their son, Shane Fabiani, can be sent to 157 Highland Road, Dalton, PA 18414 or to PS Bank, 100 Old Lackawanna Trail, Clarks Summit, PA 18411. Donation jars can be found in area restaurants including Ardee’s Foodrinkery, Falls Twp., and DeLeo’s Bar & Grill, Dalton.

Why: Money raised will be used to help Shirley Fabiani going forward, as she may need special transportation like a motorized wheelchair and a wheelchair-accessible van, and to cover mounting hospital or rehab bills. Her son said donations will be spent wisely as he dedicates himself to helping his mom in adapting to her hopefully temporary, but still very prolonged, disabled way of life.

In his own words: “Community support is honestly, whole-heartedly what is keeping me going right now. It is so comforting to know there’s an army of supportive people out there waiting to do anything they can to help us. I love nothing more than being a small-town guy born and raised in the town where my dad was born and raised in. Nowhere else would you get a tight-knit community support group like we have. Small Town, USA, is always what has made our country tick. It comes back to the blue-collar man. The backbone of America.” — Shane Fabiani, son

Family of four stands together

Submitted Photo
Cindy Cobb McDermott with her sons

 

 

Update: Cindy’s Crusade, a benefit held Saturday in Mayfield in honor of breast cancer patient Cindy Cobb McDermott, was a success. “My family and I are very grateful for the outpouring of love and support from our friends, family and community,” McDermott wrote. “Thanks again everyone for coming out yesterday to show your support.”