Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Helen Demmer
Grandmother
Helen (Perone) Demmer, died May 5, 2009.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul G. Demmer.
She is survived by her daughters, Lynn Wilson (Scott) and Leslie Demmer-Heidenreich; and grandsons, Ben and Jonathan.
Arrangements were handled by John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc., Brentwood.
Peter Payne
Insurance man
Peter Anthony Payne, of the South Hills, a known insurance man and retired Army colonel, died May 8, 2009.
He was a Metropolitan Life millionaire producer for 37 years. He entered the Army as a private in 1946 and held every successive enlisted rank.He received a direct commission to second lieutenant from the 82nd Airborne Division Commanding General in 1952.He then entered the active Reserves, and retired in 1975 with the rank of LtC Col.
Mr. Payne was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal given to armed services members for exceptionally meritorious service.He was instrumental in the establishment of the 99th Army Reserve Command in Pittsburgh and past president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Association of the United States Army.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Payne; daughters, Patricia Payne and Michele A. Bobin both of California; son, Robert Payne of Pittsburgh; five grandchildren; and a sister, Joyce McClelland.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Samuel Payne.
Arrangements were handled by John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc., Brentwood.
Madeline (Antonioli) Caquatto
Madeline (Antonioli) Caquatto, 97, of the South Hills area, formerly of Hickory, Pa., died Oct. 12, 2010.
Born on Nov. 24, 1913, in Coshocton, Ohio, she was a daughter of the late Lorenzo and Ermalinda Malattia Antonioli.
She worked in retail at Kaufmann's Department Store and also as an industrial sewer at the Pittsburgh Casing Co. in Lawrenceville. In 1942, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps which folded into the Women's Army Corps. She served as a dispatcher at a motor pool at Fort Rucker, Ala., and she traveled throughout the South selling war bonds. Shortly after leaving the service, she married Anthony Caquatto and, together, they managed the Pittsburgh Casing Co.
Mrs. Caquatto served as judge of elections for nearly 30 years during both Republican and Democratic majority registrations.
She is survived by her daughters, Norma M. Caquatto of Pittsburgh and Gloria C. Bannister (Robert), of Raleigh, N.C.; four grandchildren, Christopher Bannister of Raleigh, Heather Henry (Matthew) of Falls Church, Va., David Bannister (Jennifer) of Apex, N.C., and Vincent Bannister of Redmond, Wash.; and a great-granddaughter, Madeline Henry.
Friends were received at the John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc., Brentwood. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church.
Donations may be made to Duquesne University (Madeline Caquatto Nursing Scholarship) or the Women in Military Service to America memorial.
Elaine Michel
Borough employee
Elaine R. (Meilcarek) Michel, 72, of Baldwin Borough, died Oct. 15, 2010.
Mrs. Michel was an employee with Baldwin Borough for 36 years and a lifelong volunteer of church and civic organizations.
She is survived by her husband, Robert E. Michel Sr., of 50 years; her children, Mary (Brian) Conboy, Dianne (James) McMaster, David (Karen) Michel and Robert E. (Melissa) Michel Jr.; grandchildren, Chelsea, Robbie, Amanda, Danielle, Andrew and Sophie Elaine.
Friends were received at the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home Inc., Pleasant Hills. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Hays. Interment was in Jefferson Memorial Park.
Helen Bieri
Grandmother
Helen "Nellie" (Bogucki) Bieri, 97, formerly of the Allentown section of Pittsburgh, died Oct. 17, 2010, at Baptist Homes in Pittsburgh.
Mrs. Bieri belonged to Christian Mothers, was active in St. George Church and was a Red Cross volunteer at veterans hospitals. She also won many prizes for sewing and baking at the Allegheny County fairs.
She is survived by her daughters, Maryann (Chuck) Vitale and Joan Ickert; grandchildren, Michael (Karen) Vitale of Clinton, N.J., Sharon (Larry) Hokaj and Daryl J. Ickert; great-grandchildren, Christian, Amanda Rose and Nicholas Hokaj; and a sister, Mary Ann Ostrowski.
She also is survived by brother-in-law, Lou Guzik; and nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Bieri was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Bieri; and siblings, Florence Guzik, Barbara Bogucki, Sophie Lieberkowski, Karl, Frank and Joseph Bogucki and four baby sisters.
Friends were received at the John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc., Brentwood. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. John Vianney (St. George). Interment was in St. Michael Cemetery in Pittsburgh's South Side.
The family suggests contributions to St. John Vianney, 823 Climax St., Pittsburgh, PA 15210.
Raymond H. Bechtold
Baldwin Borough
Raymond H. Bechtold, 91, of Baldwin Borough died Sept. 11, 2010.
Mr. Bechtold was an active member of Holy Angels Parish in Hays and retired from Mine Safety Appliance.
He is survived by his wife, Nilda Barbano Bechtold; children, Mary Ann O'Malley of Peters Township, Karen (Tom) Schultz of Baldwin and Raymond J. (Jill) Bechtold, also of Baldwin; and grandchildren, Erin and Megan O'Malley, Christopher and Jonathan Schultz and Austin, Olyvia and Alyssa Bechtold.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen "Becky" Bechtold.
Friends were received at the John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc., Brentwood. A funeral prayer will be held today, Thursday, at 9 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Holy Angels Church, Baldwin Road, at 10 a.m.
Estella LeMaster
Army nurse
Estella J. (Lagomarcino) LeMaster, 95, of Murrysville, formerly of Baldwin Township, died Sept. 8, 2010.
Mrs. LeMaster survived the 1918 influenza pandemic, even after being a sickly child who was not expected to live long. Many people in her community, including her father, died during the pandemic.
She was a 1940 graduate of Huntington Memorial Hospital Nursing School in Huntington, W.Va.
Mrs. LeMaster was a World War II Army nurse and served in the 115th Station Hospital in England, France and Germany.
After World War II, she attended the University of Pittsburgh on the G.I. Bill and earned a degree in public health.
Surviving are two children, R. Richard LeMaster and his wife, Barbara, of Murrysville and Robert M. LeMaster and his wife, Loretta, of Pleasant Hills; five grandchildren, Matthew and Nathan and Kayla and Benjamin LeMaster and Crystal Ross; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Lucille Andreas of West Virginia.
Her husband of 44 years, Raymond LeMaster; and two sisters, Victoria Crain and Lillian Polachek, preceded her in death.
Visitation and services were at Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home, Turtle Creek/Monroeville Chapel, Turtle Creek. Burial with military honors was in Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills.
Memorial donations may be made to Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund, 235 Alpha Drive, Suite 101, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.
Frances Shaffer
Brentwood resident
Frances J. Shaffer, 72, of Brentwood Borough, died Sept. 12, 2010.
She is survived by a son, Donald (Elise) Shaffer; grandchildren, Madison Ann and Abigail Elise Shaffer; and a sister, Gladys (George) Bell.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth "Kenny" and Ada (Burton) Shaffer.
Friends were received at the Cieslak & Tatko Funeral Home Inc., Brentwood, where a service was held.
Memorial donations may be made to the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.
