Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
FERN WALKER
Fern Walker, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, March 5, 2000, in the Harmon House, Mt. Pleasant. Friends were received Tuesday in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 406 E. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Robert Bixel officiating. Interment will follow in the Normalville Cemetery.
CHADWICK F. WESTENFELDER
Chadwick F. Westenfelder, 89, of North Huntingdon, formerly of Pocatello, Idaho, died Monday, March 6, 2000, in the Briarcliff Medical Pavilion, North Huntingdon. He was born April 23, 1910, in Grace, Idaho, a son of the late Harry and Irene Sullivan Westenfelder. He was a retired salesperson for Hills Bros. Coffee. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Irwin, the Portneuf Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Portneuf, Idaho, and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Portneuf. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy L. Powell Westenfelder. He is survived by two daughters , Jean Parkinson of Phoenix, Ariz., and Judy Ireland of North Huntingdon; a son, Kirk Westenfelder of Olympia, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. There will be no viewing. A memorial service and interment will take place in Pocatello, Idaho. Those wishing may contribute to the Huntingdon Ridge West Activity Fund or the First Presbyterian Church, Irwin. Arrangements by the WILLIAM SNYDER FUNERAL HOME, 521 Main St., Irwin.
HOMER F. BUSH
Homer F. Bush, 80, of Greensburg RD3, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000, at his home. He was born May 26, 1919, in Greensburg, the son of the late James and Dora Keibler Bush. He was a retired employee of Loughran's Pharmacy and a member of the First Lutheran Church in Greensburg. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two daughters . Surviving are his wife, Ruth M. Bush; daughter, Sandra and her husband, James France, of Greensburg; granddaughters, Stephanie and Andrea; and aunt, Sara Pfister of Greensburg. Friends will be received at the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 N. Main St., Greensburg, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Services will be held at the First Lutheran Church at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. E. Allen Scanlon officiating. Interment will follow in Westmoreland County Memorial Park. Should friends desire, the family wishes memorials to the First Lutheran Church.
CHERYL J. CHARLESWORTH
Cheryl J. "Sherry" Charlesworth, 37, of Harrison City and formerly of McKeesport, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. She was a court reporter for Judge John Driscoll in Westmoreland County Courthouse, Greensburg. She was a member of Holy Trinity Church in West Mifflin and a leader of the Harrison City Boy Scouts Troop Pack #230. Also, she was a 1980 graduate of McKeesport High School and a graduate of ICM School of Business, Pittsburgh. She is survived by her husband, Dale K. Charlesworth; her mother , Dolores Freeman of McKeesport; two children, Jody and Chad at home; three sisters , Mariann Swauger, Dolores Wilson, and Cindy Marks; three nieces and a nephew; aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her mother -in-law and Father -in-law, Hazel and George Charlesworth. Friends will be received Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the JENNIFER S. JORDAN FUNERAL HOME INC., 1638 Lincoln Way, White Oak, (412) 672-6322. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Trinity Church, West Mifflin. Burial Parish Cemetery.
CHARLES M. CHRISTNER SR.
Charles M. "Chick" Christner Sr., 82, of West Newton, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000, in Frick Hospital, Mt. Pleasant. Born Jan. 7, 1918, in Marguerite, he was a son of the late Walter and Elizabeth Ramsey Christner. Prior to his retirement, he had been employed for 35 years by U.S. Steel, National Tube Works, in McKeesport. He was awarded the Bronze Star as a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army with the 45th Infantry in Europe and Africa. He was a member of VFW Post 7812, West Newton, Collinsburg Liederkranz and the L.O.O.M. #1358, Sutersville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Marie (Johnston) Christner, in 1994; a daughter, Kathy Risku, in 1997; two sisters , Sarah Ashbaugh and Arlene Sheard; and three brothers , Glenn, Arnold and Richard Christner. He is survived by his son, District Justice Charles M. Christner Jr. and wife, Patricia, of Rostraver Township; three grandsons, James and wife, Laurie, John and wife, Tracy, and Christopher and wife, Desiree; three great-grandchildren, Jenna, Megan and Christopher Jr.; a brother, Ernest Christner of Jamestown, N.Y.; and a sister, Dorothy Weyandt of New Stanton. Friends will be received Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the J. WILLIAM McCAULEY JR. FUNERAL HOME INC., West Newton, where services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. S. Miles McConnell officiating. Interment in Olive Branch Cemetery, Smithton. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 152 E. Otterman St., Greensburg, PA 15601.
VIOLET B. (MOORE) COCHRAN
Violet B. (Moore) Cochran, 82, of Somerset, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000, at Somerset Hospital. Born Sept. 26, 1917, in Milford Township, a daughter of Jesse and Ruth (Mosholder) Moore. Preceded in death by parents; husband, William Cochran; and grandchildren, Robert and Kimberly Beener. Survived by these children, Carol, wife of Lynn Custer; Donald and wife, Ann; Darleen, wife of George Beener; and Robert and wife, Janeen. Also these grandchildren, Sheri, wife of Johnnie Bodden; Brett Custer, Mindy, and Shawn Cochran; Kerry and wife, Julie Beener; Kevin Beener; and Natosha and Jeremy Cochran. Great-grandchildren, Nathaniel Custer, Zachary and Arianna Bodden, Ashley, Cassidy, Chelsea, and Cole Beener. Sister of Mary E. and husband, Milton Weighley, Anna M. and husband, William McQuade, Florence R. and husband, Harry Maust, Mildred R. and husband, William Ringler, and Ida M. and husband, Roy Schmuck. She was a former employee and partner in Farm Equipment and Cochran Farm Equipment Co. for 65 years. One of the better known women in the farm, logging, and construction industries, she was admired for her knowledge of and memory for equipment parts and her dedicated, loyal service to her customers. She was a 1934 graduate of Somerset High School and was a member of the Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren where she served as deacon and held various positions. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at MILLER FUNERAL HOME, Somerset. Church service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren, Brotherton, Pa. Viewing one-half hour prior to service. The Rev. Timothy Resh officiating. Interment Somerset County Memorial Park. A luncheon will follow at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren, Violet Cochran Memorial Fund.
SISTER RITA CORRIGAN
Sister Rita Corrigan (formerly Sister Bernard), 74, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, at the Motherhouse of the sisters of St. Joseph, Baden, in the 56th year of her religious life. Sister Rita, a daughter of the late Thomas and Marion Bigley Corrigan, entered the Congregation in 1944 from St. Bernard Parish, Mt. Lebanon. Sister ministered in elementary schools in the Pittsburgh, Altoona/Johnstown, and Greensburg dioceses from 1947 to January 2000. Sister Rita was a master teacher of the very young - pre-school to second grade. For 14 years, Sister taught kindergarten at Mt. Gallitzin Academy in Baden. In 1992 Sister Rita, along with her sister, Sister Marion, opened a pre-school program at St. Mary School, Kittanning, Pa. In January of 2000, Sister Rita retired from this ministry due to illness. She had resided at the Motherhouse since Feb. 23. Sister Rita is survived by two sisters , her twin, Sister Marion, a Sister of St. Joseph, and Patsy Eiter of McMurray; a brother, Raymond of Stone Mountain, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers , Thomas and Eugene Corrigan. Friends will be received from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Motherhouse of the sisters of St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel. Burial will follow in the sisters ' Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds. Donations in memory of Sister Rita may be sent to the St. Joseph Memorial Fund, 1020 State St., Baden, PA 15005.
FRANCES MARY LIPINSKI DiBERNARDO
Frances Mary Lipinski DiBernardo, 60, of North Versailles, formerly of Export, on Monday, March 6, 2000, in the Braddock Hospital. Mrs. DiBernardo was born Jan. 29, 1940, in Export, a daughter of Margaret Como Lipinski and the late Edward Lipinski. She is survived by her husband, Joseph. Loving mother of Lisa DiBernardo of Jefferson Borough and Joe and his wife, Stacy, of Illinois; grandmother of Aryana and Joey; and sister of Edward Lipinski of Virginia and Geraldine Berger of Monroeville. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Friends received 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the THOMAS L. NIED FUNERAL HOME INC., 7441 Washington St., Swissvale. A Mass will be celebrated in the St. Robert Bellarmine Church, North Versailles, Friday, March 10, at 10 a.m. Interment in the Braddock Catholic Cemetery, Braddock Hills.
MARIE R. DUNN
Marie R. Dunn, 80, of New Derry, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, at home. She was born June 12, 1919, in Mansfield, a daughter of the late J. Lewis and Viola Moser Hemmer. Raised in Wilkes Barre, she graduated from Myers High School in 1937 and Jefferson School of Nursing in Philadelphia in 1940. In 1941, she was commissioned an ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps. Prior to retirement, Marie was a nurse at Latrobe Area Hospital, and was a member of St. Martin Church of New Derry and the Altar Rosary Society. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Lewis Hemmer. Marie is survived by her husband, John W. Dunn, to whom she was married Aug. 25, 1942, at St. Vincent Archabbey by the Rev. Edmund Cuneo. She is also survived by five children, Marie "Bunny" Patrick and her husband, Tom, of Seminole, Fla., John W. Jr. and his wife, Adelle, of Loyalhanna, Donna Meadows and her husband, Joe, of Prince George, Va., Diane Haggerty and her husband, Mike, of Gibsonia and Joseph L. and his wife, Karen, of New Derry; also 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Family will receive friends Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the MICHAEL J. QUINLISK FUNERAL HOME INC., 548 N. Chestnut St., Derry. A Funeral Mass will be concelebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Vincent Basilica with the Rev. Arthur Holtz, O.S.B., the Rev. Chrysostom Schlimm, O.S.B., and the Rev. Clair Gannon, O.S.B. Interment will follow in St. Vincent Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Westmoreland Hospice, 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601. St. Martin Altar Rosary Society will recite the rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday.
CARMELA DENTE GRIPPO
Carmela Dente Grippo, 92, of Greensburg, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, in Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg. She was born March 13, 1907, in Altoona, a daughter of the late George A. and Rose Menza Dante. She was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral and the sons of Italy Lodge America #735. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Grippo; infant sister, Yolanda; and brother, Giacomo. Surviving are her children, Anna Marie Grippo, with whom she made her home, Paul Grippo Jr. and wife, Katie, and Rose Grippo, all of Greensburg; brothers , Anthony Dente and wife, Charlotte, of Chandler, Ariz., Romeo Dente and wife, Marietta, of Altoona and James Dente of Phoenix, Ariz.; and sisters , Juliet Fiore and husband, Nicholas, of Altoona and Italia DeBernardis and husband, Joseph, of Seneca Falls, N.Y. Also survived by granddaughters, Maureen Everett of Greensburg and Barbara Dawson and husband, Eric, of Belle Vernon; great-grandson, Matthew Dawson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 N. Main St., Greensburg, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A blessing service will be held in the funeral home Saturday at 12:30 p.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 1 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. Entombment will follow in Greensburg Catholic Cemetery.
EVELYN R. HAMILTON
Evelyn R. "Deb" Hamilton, 86, of Loyalhanna, formerly of Pleasant Unity, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, at Latrobe Area Hospital. She was born Sept. 15, 1913, in Bedford, a daughter of the late William and Margaret (Howsare) Hafer. She had been a member of the Pleasant Unity United Methodist Church. Deb loved flower gardening and tending to her animals. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Morris S. Hamilton; an infant daughter, Rebecca; a grandson, Elias Rourke Jr.; four brothers , William, Chauncey, Kenneth, and Richard Hafer; and two sisters , Cora Clark and Olive Wigfield. She is survived by a daughter, Evelyn Rourke of Berlin; five grandchildren, Carolyn Bollman, Kathleen Williams, and Edward, Boyd and Dale Rourke; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, George Hafer; and a sister, Armilda Sachs. Friends will be received at the GAUT-BACHA FUNERAL HOME INC., Pleasant Unity, Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at which time funeral services will be held with the Rev. Clark R. Kerr officiating. Interment will follow in Unity Cemetery, Unity Township.
MILDRED HELMS
Mildred Helms, 85, of South Connellsville, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 7, 2000, in Eicher's Family Home in Normalville. She was born April 2, 1914, in Connellsville, a daughter of the late Orton P. and Elizabeth Beiber Eicher. Following the death of her mother in 1922, Mildred lived with her maternal grandparents, Fred and Clara Beiber, until Nov. 10, 1934, when she married Walter Glenn Helms. She was Protestant by faith. Mildred was very active in her church, where she was a singer in the choir and she also sang at funerals and weddings. She was a member of the Albright EUB Church in South Connellsville until the early 1950s, when she joined the Calvary Assembly of God Church, Connellsville. Mildred was a Sunday school teacher at both churches and a former superintendent of the Sunday schools at the Assembly of God Church. She also served on various boards of the church. She remained a member of the Assembly of God Church until her death. She is survived by two daughters , Elinor Rae Helms of South Connellsville and Janice Fae Helms Burlikowski of Irwin; two grandchildren, Lisa Brown Westwood and her husband, Paul, of Irwin and Thomas G. Brown of Slickville; four great-grandchildren, Sara Brown and Thomas E. Brown, both of the state of Illinois, and Lindsay and Jacob Westwood, both of Irwin; two brothers , Jesse Willard Eicher and his wife, Mildred, of Connellsville and Jack D. Eicher and his wife, Gail, of Houston, Pa.; two sisters -in-law, Betty Moon of South Connellsville and Betty Jean Helms of Connellsville; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mildred was predeceased by her husband, Walter Glenn "Pee Wee" Helms, on May 9, 1992; her stepmother, Pearl Firestone Eicher; and a sister, Helen P. Snyder, on Dec. 8, 1997. Friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. David Bashor officiating. Interment will follow in the Hill Grove Cemetery.
DONALD R. HUNTER
Donald R. Hunter, 64, of Guinda, Calif., formerly of Herminie, died Saturday, March 4, 2000, in California. Born March 27, 1935. Retired from United Airlines. He was preceded in death by his Father , David, in 1962; his brother, Carl, in 1967; and his sister, Joann, in 1986. He is survived by his wife, Trudie, of California; sons , David, Randy, and Douglas; and a daughter, Kathy of Vacaville, Calif.; seven grandchildren; his mother , Mae McLean Hunter of Herminie; brothers , Dean and wife, Girven, of Fremont, Calif., Walter "Bill" and wife, Patty, of Jeannette, and Ken of Herminie; and sisters , Lois and husband, Anthony Campoli, of Latrobe and Joyce Bent of Plum. A memorial service will be held in California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Capay Valley Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 6, Brooks, CA. 95606, in memory of Donald R. Hunter.
