Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Joseph M. Shemms
Confluence
Formerly of Braddock
Joseph M. Shemms, of Confluence, formerly of Braddock, on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000. He was the owner and operator of Shemms Catering Service from 1945 to 1996, and also owner of a hotel and tavern in Braddock. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Braddock Council 911, the Polish Club of Braddock, the Men's Club of Good Shepherd Church, and former councilman in Braddock. Husband of Marcella Pisarek Shemms and the late Josephine Krzywiec Shemms. Father of Roberta Shemms and Josephine Mosco. Also three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Friends will be received Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the RONALD V. LUCAS FUNERAL HOME, corner of Bell and Jones avenues, North Braddock, (412) 271-1361. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. in Good Shepherd Church. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
Margaret E.(Sedlack) Stanko
Brentwood
Margaret E. (Sedlack) Stanko, 83 of Brentwood, died suddenly on Thursday, August 3, 2000, in Mercy Hospital. She was the wife of the late Frank B. Stanko, Sr.; mother of Frank B., Jr., Richard J., Carol M., Robert C., (Pattie), James P., & William V. Stanko; Grandmother of Heather Stanko; sister of Mary (Chuck) Winkler, Veronica (Cyril) Zvolensky; and the late Joseph, Andrew, Edward, Ann and Elizabeth Sedlack. Friends will be received in CIESLAK AND TATKO FUNERAL HOME INC., 2935 Brownsville Road, Brentwood, SUNDAY ONLY 1-9 p.m., where a funeral prayer will be held on Monday, at 9:15 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Sylvester Church with Fr. Leroy DiPietro officiating.
Andrew J. Stracka
Bowie, Md.
Formerly of Greensburg
Andrew J. Stracka, 94, of Bowie, Md., (formerly of Greensburg RD2), died Friday, Aug. 4, 2000, at Doctors Community Hospital, Lanham, Md. He was born June 3, 1906, in McKees Rocks, a son of the late Joseph and Mary (Ferenchik) Stracka. He had been retired over 30 years after working as a steelworker. He had been a member of the Armbrust Wesleyan Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary (Harhai) Stracka; and all his brothers and sisters . He is survived by two sons , Edward A. Stracka and wife, Julie, of Falls Church, Va., and John A. Stracka Sr. and wife, Mary, of Bowie, Md.; six grandchildren, Mike, Will, Kimberly, Beth, Jeanette and John Stracka Jr.; three great-grandchildren, Chrystal, Megan and Kailey; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the GAUT-BACHA FUNERAL HOME INC., Pleasant Unity.
Carol Johnston Thompson
Pittsburgh
On Thursday, August 3, 2000, Carol Johnston Thompson, beloved wife of Robert L. Thompson, mother of Kenneth Roberts Thompson, Jean Darrah Thompson Bird and Nancy Elizabeth Thompson Silverman. Sister of Murray V. and William R. Johnston. Grandmother of Darrah R. Bird, Evan Skye Thompson, Emilie C. Bird and Kelly A. Silverman. Interment private. Memorial service will be held at Waverly Presbyterian Church, South Braddock Avenue, on Saturday, August 12, 2000 at 3:00 p.m. Family suggests contributions to the music program at Waverly Presbyterian Church. Family will receive friends immediately following the memorial service. Arrangements by MCCABE BROS., INC.
Samuel J. Topley
Pine
Samuel J. Topley, died Thursday August 3, 2000, in UPMC Passavant, McCandless. Born March 25, 1931 in East McKeesport, he was the son of the late John and Thelma Davison Topley. Mr. Topley was an Army veteran of the
Korean War and retired from PNC Financial. He was a school bus driver for North Allegheny School District. He was a member of Wexford Community Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline Topley; two sons , Jeffrey S. Topley and Lee R. Topley; one sister, Bette Jack; three grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the H.P. BRANDT FUNERAL HOME, 1032 Perry highway, Ross, where services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Bruce Schlenke of the Wexford Community United Presbyterian Church will officiate. Burial will be in Pinewood Memorial Park, Cranberry. Memorial contributions can be made to: The American Cancer Society, 241 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Betty J. "Betts" Hantz Wasil
Latrobe
Betty J. "Betts" Hantz Wasil, 76, of Latrobe, died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000, in Latrobe Area Hospital. Born Dec. 25, 1923, in Greene County, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Pauline Campbell Hantz. She was a member of St. Stanislaus Church, Calumet. A hairdresser for 42 years, she owned The Deluxe and the House of Beauty, both in Latrobe, before retiring in 1995. Betts' greatest joys were helping others and raising African violets. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John S. Wasil, on Sept. 21, 1995; and a daughter, Darlene L. Lowden, in July 1950. She is survived by a son, Donald E. Lowden and his wife, Jowanda, of Birmingham, Ala.; a daughter, Beth Lowden and her fiance, Jerry, of Latrobe; three brothers , Paul Hantz and Francis "Butch" Hantz, both of Latrobe, and Al Hantz of Duquesne; two grandchildren, D.J. and Tammy; three great-grandchildren, Marcus, Madison and Emma; and a number of nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the JOHN J. LOPATICH FUNERAL HOME INC., 601 Weldon St., Latrobe. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Stanislaus Church with the Rev. John Foriska as celebrant. Interment in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.
Charles Worthing
Bellevue
Formerly of Spring Hill
Charles Worthing, 76, died Thursday August 3. 2000, in his home in Bellevue. He was the son of the late Elmer and Betty Isenberg. Mr. Worthing was an Army veteran of World War II and worked for the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Parks and Recreation for 46 years until his retirement in 1990. Survivors include four daughters , Aurea Julian of Slippery Rock, Adrienne Moehring of Ellmsworth, Loralee Lidey of Bellevue and Bonnie Sam of Greensburg; two sons , Eric Worthing of Fayette City and Mark Worthing of New Sewickley; 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; one sister, Pauline Snyder of Mt. Union; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Charles Worthing Jr.; one brother Harold Worthing and one sister, Lillian Wolni. A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Bellevue Christian Church, 680 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue. There will be no visitation. Arrangements by the THOMAS M. SMITH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, Blawnox.
Heinrich `Henry' Arpagaus
Bellevue
Formerly of the North Side
Heinrich "Henry" Arpagaus, 79, died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000. Mr. Arpagaus was a retired chef from the Duquesne Club. Survivors include a sister, Martina S. Arpagaus; five brothers , Johann Arpagaus, Franz Arpagaus, Baseli Arpagaus, Anton Arpagaus and Maurus Arpagaus. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in LAWRENCE T. MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 460 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue. Christian Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Church of the Assumption. Burial will be in Christ Our Redeemer Cemetery, Ross.
Loretta T. Niebel Becker
Reserve
Loretta T. Niebel Becker, 92, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2000, in UPMC St. Margaret, near Aspinwall. Born Sept. 12, 1907, in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of the late Anton and Elizabeth Simon. Mrs. Becker was a school teacher for Reserve Township. Survivors include a daughter, Dorothy Blobner of Hampton; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, Harry H. Niebel and Ehrhardt Becker; and a daughter, Elva E. Van Kirk. Friends will be received from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday in T.B. DEVLIN FUNERAL HOME, 806 Perry Highway, Ross. Christian Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, Reserve. Burial will be in North Side Catholic Cemetery, Ross.
Frank E. Bommer
Baldwin
Frank E. Bommer, age 77, on Friday, August 4, 2000, of Balwin Borough. Husband of Katherine Bommer; Father of Susan L. Bommer; brother of Louise Blake, Carl, Henrietta, Schmitt, Esther, Art, and the late Ralph; several nieces and nephews. Friends received at the JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood on Sunday and Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., where funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Anna Beach Bridgwater
Pittsburgh
Anna Beach Bridgwater, of Pittsburgh, on Monday, July 31, 2000. Sister of the late Donald Bridgwater. Survived by a niece, Mrs. Christopher (Janet) Goff, and great-nieces, Emma and Maggie Goff, all of Bronxville, N.Y. Miss Bridgwater was a biochemist with The Western Pennsylvania Hospital and a member of the Smithfield United Church. A memorial service will be held at the Fair Oaks of Pittsburgh, 2200 W. Liberty Ave., Thursday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Smithfield United Church. Arrangements by H. SAMSON INC.
