Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
RITA N. RIDILLA
Rita N. Ridilla, 66, of Latrobe, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, in UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh. She was born April 10, 1933, in Latrobe, a daughter of the late Michael and Kathryn (Lipka) Niezelski. Rita was a member of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Latrobe, a member of Harrold's Grange Western Squares (Square Dancing Club), an avid antique collector, and also enjoyed travelling and flower gardening. Prior to her marriage, she was employed by the former Stupakoff Ceramic and Manufacturing Co. in Latrobe. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Gess; and two brothers , Joseph and George Niezelski. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Andrew M. Ridilla; two daughters , Elaine R. Wingard and husband, William, of Derry, and Darlene Curnow of Clearwater, Fla.; seven grandchildren: Andy and Ben Wingard, Wendy, Kellie, Joshua, and Jacob Curnow, and Ashley Henry; two brothers , John Niezelski of Latrobe, and Andrew Niezelski and his wife, Alberta, of Loyalhanna; and a brother-in-law, Richard Gess of Latrobe. Friends were received at the HARTMAN-GRAZIANO FUNERAL HOME INC., 1500 Ligonier St., Latrobe, from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. A blessing service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the funeral home, followed by Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church with the Rev. Xavier Elambassery officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Latrobe. Panachida services will be held in the funeral home Thursday evening at 7:30.
PAUL W. SCHMIDT
Paul W. Schmidt, 71, of North Huntingdon, died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, in Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, after a lengthy illness. He was born May 1, 1928, in Pittsburgh, a son of the late Wendelin and Leola (Rectenwald) Schmidt. He was a retired tool and die maker at Fisher Body. Beloved husband of Lois E. (Hand) Schmidt. Also survived by a daughter, Patti Jo and husband, Robert Rak, of North Huntingdon; a son, Paul M. Schmidt and wife, Colleen, of North Huntingdon; two sisters , Margaret Borneman of Fayetteville, N.C., and Katherine Barrett of Bethel Park; five grandchildren; and five stepgrandchildren. Friends were received at the VINCENT V. RODGERS FUNERAL HOME, 805 Pennsylvania Ave., Irwin, Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Service will be held Friday, March 3, at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Carlisle Lloyd officiating. Interment Twin Valley Memorial Park.
RUSSELL L. STEFFEY
Russell L. ``Russ" Steffey, 75, of Export, died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, in Allegheny University-Forbes Regional. He was born April 26, 1924, in Delmont, a son of the late William C. and Millie M. (Pierce) Steffey. He was a retired machinist, having worked for the former General Tire/Gen Corp., presently known as Omnova Solutions Inc. of Jeannette. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. Russell was a member of the Delmont Presbyterian Church and the American Legion Post 18 of Slickville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Boyd Steffey; and a sister, Viola Neudorfer. Russell is survived by his wife of 52 years, Minnie V. (Myers) Steffey; two sons , Russell K. Steffey of Mt. Pleasant, and Clifford B. Steffey and wife, Lori, of Elgin, S.C.; a daughter, Roxanne M. Goodwin and husband, Elmer Jr., of Jeannette; two brothers , Ernest Steffey of Delmont, and William Steffey and wife, Gladys, of North Huntingdon; four sisters , Ruth Martz of Export, Sylvia DeFrancis of Greensburg, Vivien Sanders and husband, Harold, of California, and Mabel McCurdy of Saxonburg. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Jessica Suba, Wendy Steffey, Jason and Brandon Goodwin, and Christine and Breanna Steffey; and a number of nieces and nephews. The family received family and friends at the VAIA FUNERAL HOME INC. AT TWIN VALLEY, 463 Athena Drive, Delmont, (724) 468-1177, beginning Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and will receive them Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Russell's funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. James R. Wagner of the Faith United Methodist Church officiating. Entombment will follow in Twin Valley Memorial Park. Kevin P. Altman, supervisor, in charge of arrangements.
MARILYN J. (BYERLY) STEFIK
Marilyn J. (Byerly) Stefik, of Pleasant Hills, on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2000. Wife of the late Dr. Leonard J. Stefik. Loving mother of Susan Stefik, Leonard J. Stefik Jr., and Laurie Stefik Puza. Sister of Joyce Jacob and the late Wayne Byerly. Grandmother of Patrick Foster, Ryan, Jason, and Megan Stefik, and the late Brian Foster. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME INC., 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pleasant Hills, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday. Interment Jefferson Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 555 Grant St., Suite 425, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
DANIEL LEE YOUNKIN
Daniel Lee Younkin, 12, of Broadford Road, Connellsville (Upper Tyrone Township), went home to be with the Lord Tuesday morning, Feb. 29, 2000, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. Family and friends will be received at the ROBERT B. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME, 105 Spring St., Scottdale, (724) 887-5300, Thursday from 12 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Additional viewing will be held Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Scottdale Assembly of God Church, Elm and Jennings avenues. Funeral services will follow in the church at 11 a.m. with Pastor Daniel Cluck officiating. Graveside committal services and interment will take place in Scottdale Cemetery.
JOHN C. GRAHAM
John C. ``Jack" Graham, 69, of Ligonier, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2000. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, Ligonier. Arrangements by SNYDER FUNERAL HOME INC. & CREMATORY, Ligonier. Elizabeth Snyder Bloom, funeral director.
JOHN A. HAYBURN
John A. Hayburn, 82, of North Huntingdon, died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, in the Jeannette District Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 22, 1917, in Philadelphia, a son of the late Joseph P. and Marie Broderick Hayburn. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a mechanic by Westinghouse Electric P.G.S.D. of Chatham Center, Pittsburgh. He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, North Huntingdon. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Rita Schiedy. Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Doris Richardson Hayburn; two sons , Dennis and his wife, Patricia Hayburn, of North Huntingdon and Gerald and his wife, Shirley Hayburn, of North Huntingdon; five grandchildren, Kelly, Jessica, David, Erin and Matthew; two great-grandchildren, Katlyn and Kelsie; and two brothers , Joseph Hayburn of Cape May, N.J., and Martin Hayburn of Essington, Pa. Friends will be received at the JOSEPH F. OTT FUNERAL HOME INC., Fifth and Oak streets, Irwin, Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Agnes Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, North Huntingdon.
MARY LOU LINSENBIGLER McCANN
Mary Lou Linsenbigler McCann, 65, of Merrillville, Ind., formerly of Penn, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000. She was born Sept. 1, 1934, in Penn, a daughter of the late Harry and Kathryn Linsenbigler. She was preceded in death by three sisters , Gladys Linsenbigler, Eileen Gray and Dorothy Darragh; and a brother, Harry ``Iggy" Linsenbigler. She is survived by a daughter, Kathy and her husband, Jovan Doneski, of Merrillville, Ind.; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, William Linsenbigler and his wife, Barbara, of Penn; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held Monday, Feb. 28, at the STILINOVICH & WIATROLIK FUNERAL HOME, Merrillville, Ind., with John P. Starr officiating. Interment was held at the Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville.
PAUL H. SNYDER JR.
Paul H. Snyder Jr., 47, of McKeesport, on Wednesday, March 1, 2000. Born Sept. 4, 1952, in McKeesport, he was a son of Paul H. Sr. and June Schultz Snyder of White Oak. He was a tractor trailer driver and a member of Teamsters Union Local 249. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Melanie Wolfe Snyder; three daughters , Autumn, Alexis and Amy L. Snyder, and a son, Mark Mikesell, all at home; a grandson, Ethan Ryan DeMarco; a brother, Charles Snyder of White Oak; a niece, Shannon Snyder; and nephew, Michael Snyder. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the JAYCOX-JAWORSKI FUNERAL HOME INC., 2703 O'Neil Blvd., McKeesport, where services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Dennis B. Keefe officiating. Interment will follow in Round Hill Cemetery.
AGNES SCOTT (GARRITANO) BUYNY
Agnes Scott (Garritano) Buyny, of North Braddock. At 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2000, an angel dressed in the purple uniform of a UPMC Braddock X-ray escort led her to Heaven from her hospital bed. She was the wife of the late Andrew Buyny; mother of Frank Law and wife, Carol, Robert Garritano and wife, Joyce, Marlene Garritano, Theresa Provenzano and husband, Jim, and the late Anthony Garritano; sister of Dorothy Novak, Charles, Sherman and Gloria Jean Jarrett and the late William Jarrett; also six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Friends were received Thursday and will be received 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at the RONALD V. LUCAS FUNERAL HOME, corner of Bell and Jones avenues, North Braddock. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Good Shepherd Church Saturday at 10 a.m. Interment will be in the Braddock Catholic Cemetery.
THELMA M. DeCARO
Thelma M. DeCaro, 82, of Latrobe, died Wednesday, March 1, 2000. She was born July 6, 1917, in New Stanton, a daughter of the late John and Zetta Sams Myers. She was a member of Holy Family Church, Latrobe, and its Rosary Society. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence L. DeCaro; a daughter, Bonita Mullen; and a sister, Mabel Wolfe. Survived by a son, Lawrence E. DeCaro and his wife, Susan, of Youngwood; a son-in-law, Robert P. Mullen and his wife, Ilene, of Latrobe; a sister, Emmy Yourish of Fremont, Calif.; also survived by four grandchildren, Robin Mullen Park and her husband, Chuck, of Brookville, Pa., Cyndee Mullen Pack and her husband, Jim, of St. Simons Island, Ga., Roxanne Mullen Donahue and her husband, Rege, of Latrobe, and Carole Mullen Levay and her husband, Scott, of Ligonier; 10 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the JOHN J. LOPATICH FUNERAL HOME INC., 601 Weldon St., Latrobe. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Family Church. Interment Youngwood Cemetery. Holy Family Rosary Society will recite the rosary at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.
ADOLPH FOSSI
Adolph ``Dolph" Fossi, 81, of Lowber, died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, at the Baldock Health Care Centre, North Huntingdon. He was born Feb. 16, 1919, in Blythdale, a son of the late Achilles ``Kelly" and Olivia (Fontanesi) Fossi. Mr. Fossi ``Adolph" was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II with the rank of private 1st class. Prior to his retirement, Adolph was employed by the Monongahela Valley Hospital as a custodian. He was a member of St. Edward Roman Catholic Church, Herminie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Byzon Fossi; and three brothers , Aldo, Alfred, and Nello Fossi. Mr. Fossi is survived by his daughter, Barbara Ann Glover and her husband, James, of Harrison City; a grandson, Brandon Robert Glover; a brother, Adam Fossi, and a sister, Mrs. Nelli Martinelli, both of Blythdale; and a number of nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at the JOSEPH W. NICKELS FUNERAL HOME INC., Herminie, Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Edward Roman Catholic Church, Herminie, with Father Lawrence L. Manchas as celebrant. Interment will follow in the West Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1032, Greensburg, PA 15601.
JOHN H. HALDEMAN
John H. Haldeman, 82, of North Huntingdon, formerly of Forest Hills, died peacefully Wednesday morning, March 1, 2000. He is survived by his wife, Janette, and three children, John H. Haldeman Jr. and his wife, Patricia S. Haldeman, of Ho Ho Kus, N.J., Beverly Haldeman Timmons and her husband, Dr. James M. Timmons Jr., of Kershaw, S.C., and Shirley Haldeman Crawford and her husband, James T. Crawford, of Allison Park, Pa. Also surviving John are two stepchildren, Colleene Woomer of Alexandria, Va., and Jerry Woomer of Concord, Calif. Born March 8, 1917, in Forest Hills, he was a son of the late Herschel and Edna Haldeman. One of six children, John is survived by two sisters , Elizabeth L. Slocum of Fox Chapel and Louise H. Richardson of Churchill; two brothers , Arthur S. Haldeman of Churchill and William E. Haldeman of Okeechobee, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Elizabeth Slocum Haldeman; and his brother, Edward F. Haldeman of Pittsburgh. John, co-owner with his brother, Arthur, of Forest Hills Motor Company, was a Ford automobile dealer for 40 years until retirement in 1986. He was a director of the National Automobile Dealers Association; president of the Pennsylvania Automobile Dealers Association, Pittsburgh Automobile Trade Association, and the Forest Hills Rotary Club. John Haldeman was graduated from Allegheny College with a B.A. in Economics in 1938. He was employed by Westinghouse until drafted into the Army in 1940, commissioned in armored infantry at Fort Knox, served five years in World War II with two years in England, France, Belgium and Germany. He was a captain, commanding a Reconnaissance Company in the 3rd Armored Division, credited with European, African and Middle Eastern campaigns with five battle stars, wounded three times, awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and presented the English military Cross by Gen. Sir Bernard Law Montgomery. John was a former quarterman of the University Club, president of Edgewood Country Club, and an avid golfer. He was a member of the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church. Friends will be received Friday only 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at WOLFE MEMORIAL INC., FOREST HILLS CHAPEL, 3604 Greensburg Pike, (412) 731-5001. Memorial service at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church Saturday at 11 a.m. Contributions may be made to Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, "Window Fund," 1840 Ardmore Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15221.