Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
GEORGIA C. ROSCOSKY
Georgia C. Roscosky, 87, of Jeannette, died Sunday, April 2, 2000, in the Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg. She was born Aug. 25, 1912, in Jeannette, a daughter of the late George and Minnie Yurt Hizer. Georgia was a member of the St. Boniface Church of Penn and the church's Christian Mothers and Silver Threads Group. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by three sisters , Henrietta Kunesh, Elizabeth Horvath and Genevieve Roscosky. She is survived by her husband, Clemens Roscosky; a daughter, Lucille Robino and husband, Francis, of Jeannette; a brother, Robert Hizer and wife, Lenora, of Columbia, Mo.; two sisters , Wilamina Loughner of Export and Rosemary Kardos of West Newton; four grandchildren, Susan Bobrowski and husband, Daniel, Richard Robino and wife, Kris, Linda and Laura Robino; three great-grandchildren, Kelsey Bobrowski, Rachel and Lauren Robino; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at the JOHN V. GRAZIANO FUNERAL HOME INC., 228 N. Second St., Jeannette, beginning Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the St. Boniface Church. Interment will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery, Hempfield Township. The St. Boniface Christian mother 's and Silver Threads will pray the rosary Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the funeral home.
LEOPOLD P. SMEREKAR
Leopold P. "Paul" Smerekar, 86, of Irwin, died Monday, April 3, 2000. He was born Jan. 24, 1914, in Yugoslavia, a son of the late John and Magdeline Zagar Smerekar. He was a retired sexton for the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Irwin, with 32 years service. He was a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Irwin; F.O.E. Aerie 1671, Irwin; the L.O.O.M. Lodge 236, Irwin; and the S.N.P.J. Lodge of Herminie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Menart Smerekar in 1993; four sisters , Ella Younkin, Amelia Klus, Mary Lindsey, and Christine Iski. He is survived by a daughter, Rosemarie Friend of Ottawa, Ohio; two sons , Leo Smerekar of North Huntingdon and James Smerekar of Pinellas Park, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers , Frank Smerekar of Florida and Edward Smerekar of Greensburg; also nieces and nephews. Friends were received at the WILLIAM SNYDER FUNERAL HOME, 521 Main St., Irwin, Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Irwin. Interment will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery.
MARY JANE RUFFNER SPHON
Mary Jane Ruffner Sphon, 69, of Jeannette, died Monday, April 3, 2000, in Monsour Medical Center, Jeannette. She was born Aug. 8, 1930, in Luxor, a daughter of the late John A. and Daisy Leonard Ruffner. She was a member of the Christian Liberty Church in Greensburg. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Clyde Roy Sphon; and brothers , James and John Ruffner. She is survived by her children, Jake Edward Sphon and wife, Linda, of Leechburg, William F. Sphon and wife, Barbara, of Latrobe, James Ruffner Sphon and wife, Diane, of Greensburg, Daisy Sphon of Jeannette and Billie Jo McDonald and husband, Harry, of Ohio; a brother, William Ruffner and wife, Nancy, of Fort Myers, Fla.; and sisters , Henrietta McIlnay of Luxor, Gladys Myers and husband, Richard, of Greensburg, Annabelle Bayura and husband, Joseph, of Forbes Road and Faye Svetkovich and husband, Joseph, of Greensburg. Also survived by grandchildren, Jacob, Noel, Jason, Justin, Jared, Jamie, Bud, Ryan and Brad; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends were received at the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 N. Main St., Greensburg, Tuesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Liberty Christian Church, South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, with the Rev. Almon Birt officiating. Interment will follow in Twin Valley Memorial Park.
ROSE V. KOLANO WALSH
Rose V. Kolano Walsh, 71, of Jeannette, died Sunday, April 2, 2000, in Vindobona Nursing Home in Braddock Heights, Md. She was born Sept. 12, 1928, in North Braddock, a daughter of the late Joseph Kolano and Victoria Kolano. She had formerly lived in Braddock and moved to Jeannette in 1975. She was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg and the Polish Women's Alliance. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James D. Walsh Sr.; a sister, Agnes Weirzbowski. Surviving are her children, James D. Walsh of Champlin, Minn., David M. Walsh of Orlando, Fla., Kathleen Tracy of Middletown, Md., and Mark P. Walsh of Jacksonville, Fla.; brothers , Frank Kolano and John Kolano; and sisters , Dorothy Kolano and Louise Forlini. Also survived by eight grandchildren. 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. Wednesday. A blessing service will be held in the funeral home Thursday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Clair Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Breast Cancer Foundation, c/o Susan Catkoman, 5005 LBJ Freeway #370, Dallas, Texas , 75244.
EDWARD J. BODNER
Edward J. Bodner, 75, of Latrobe, died Tuesday, April 4, 2000, at Latrobe Area Hospital. He was born Oct. 7, 1924, in Reynoldsville, Pa., a son of the late Stephen and Anna Sofko Bodner. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Youngstown, Pa. He was a retired bricklayer from Local Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy. Also he was a member of the VFW #3414 Latrobe and Jednota Lodge. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers , Stephen and John Bodner; and three sisters , Anne Crago, Virginia Bodner, and Margaret Stepanic. Survived by his wife, Margaret Repko Bodner; a son, Chris Bodner of Latrobe; a brother, Joseph Bodner of Long Island, N.Y.; two sisters , Frances Malloy of Derry and Irene Iannuzzi of Ellicott City, Md.; also survived by 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 Sacred Heart Church with the Rev. Ralph Tajak, O.S.B., as celebrant. Interment Unity Cemetery, Unity Township. military services will be held at 8:45 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home.
JOHN G. CANNON
John G. Cannon, 84, of Greensburg, formerly of Ridgewood Manor, died Sunday, April 2, 2000, in Redstone Highlands, Greensburg. He was born Aug. 5, 1915, in Frankfort, Del., a son of the late John G. and Hettie Lingo Cannon. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greensburg, formerly of the Beulah Presbyterian Church in Churchill. He was a retired manager and vice president with the Strategic Engineering Department and later the Product Planning and Analysis Department of Westinghouse Airbrake. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Lois Shields Cannon; and his brother, R. Cannon. Surviving are his wife, Ruth W. Cannon; children, John R. Cannon and wife, Phyllis, of Emporia, Va., Judith Ulmer and husband, Stephen, of Summerville, S.C., Nancy Kline and husband, Jeffrey, of Oakmont and Gary Cannon and wife, Pamela, of Roswell, Ga.; and stepchildren, Terrence N. Thompson of Orlando, Fla., and Linda Thompson London of Westmount, Canada. Also survived by 12 grandchildren. There will be no public viewing. Services will be held at the Redstone Highlands Chapel Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. James Nash officiating. The family requests memorial contributions to the Redstone Highlands, 6 Garden Center Drive, Greensburg PA 15601, (724) 832-8400. The KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME INC. of Greensburg is in charge of arrangements.
FIRM LaGRANDE DINKINS
Firm LaGrande Dinkins, 78, of Greensburg, formerly of North Dakota, died Tuesday, April 4, 2000, in Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg. He was born Jan. 25, 1922, in Granite, Okla., a son of the late Paul Custis Dinkins and Famey Morse Dinkins. He was a retired mechanical engineer with the Elliott Co. with 35 years of service and was a graduate of Carnegie Tech and served during World War II in the U.S. Air Corps with the rank of captain. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Church, the Greensburg Sportsmen's Association and the Erie Yacht Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters , Irma, Opal, Ruby, Pauline, and Chesley; and brothers , Frank and Sydney. Surviving are his loving wife, Helen Joan Dinkins; and children, Barrie Lynn Simpson and husband, Michael, of Lafayette, Ind., Paul Joseph Dinkins and wife, Patricia, of Fort Collins, Colo., Joseph Earl Dinkins and wife, Teresa, of Abingdon, Va., and Mary Ann Ryan and husband, Randall, of Flagstaff, Ariz.; brother, O.C. Dinkins of Republic, Mo.; and four grandchildren, Mary Elana Simpson, Robert Firm Simpson II, Sean Paul Dinkins and Marissa Ryan. Friends will be received at the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 N. Main St., Greensburg, (724) 837-1201, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A blessing service will be held Saturday in the funeral home at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Church. Interment will follow in the St. Clair Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the VFW Post #33 of Greensburg.
ALICIA E. FRANCESE
Alicia E. "Lee" Francese, 65, formerly of Jeannette, died suddenly Saturday, April 1, 2000, in Philadelphia. She was born Aug. 16, 1934, in Jeannette, a daughter of the late John and Mary Biondi Francese. She was employed as a floral designer in Philadelphia. She was a member of the Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church of Philadelphia and a member of the Ascension Church Rosary Altar Society of Jeannette. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine White . Surviving are two sisters , Madeliene "Toots" Manning of North Huntingdon and Carol Francese of Jeannette; and nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to a Memorial Mass Saturday, April 8, at 10 a.m. in the Ascension Church, Jeannette. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Jeannette. Local arrangements by the JOSEPH F. OTT FUNERAL HOME INC., Irwin.
FREDERICK B. HEARD
Frederick B. Heard, 95, of Tampa, Fla., died Thursday, March 16, 2000, in the John Knox Village Medical Center, Tampa, Fla. Formerly of Pittsburgh, he lived in the Tampa area since 1978. Prior to his retirement in 1969, he was consumer relations manager for H.J. Heinz Co., where he worked for 44 years. He was a member of Lake Magdelene United Methodist Church, Tampa, Fla. He is survived by a son, Edison B. Heard of Greenville, Pa.; two daughters , Judith H. Thompson of Jupiter, Fla., and Jeanne Arkin of Key West, Fla.; and four grandchildren. STOWERS FUNERAL HOME in Brandon, Fla., handled the arrangements.
CHARLES F. HENNINGER
Charles F. Henninger, 90, of Greensburg, died Wednesday, April 5, 2000, in the Hempfield Manor, Hempfield Township. He was born Nov. 18, 1909, in Belleville, a son of the late Thomas and Esther Roper Henninger. Prior to retirement, he had been a supervisor for Weston Instruments of Newark, N.J. He was a graduate of Greensburg High School and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Vilma McCurdy Henninger, in 1989; and by two sisters , Marion Henninger and Elizabeth "Lib" Miron. He is survived by a sister, Mildred "Mid" Bepler of Greensburg; and three nephews, William H. and his wife, Joycelene Bepler, C. Thomas and his wife, Cathy Miron, and Joseph D. Miron. Friends will be received at the BACHA FUNERAL HOME INC., 516 Stanton at Green streets, Greensburg, Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home Friday at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Carenda D. Baker officiating. Interment will follow in the Westmoreland County Memorial Park, Hempfield Township. Family suggests memorial contributions to the Westmoreland Hospice, 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601.
WILLIAM E. HUTTENSTINE
William E. Huttenstine, 57, of Trafford, formerly of Monroeville and Pitcairn, on Sunday, April 2, 2000. Son of Barbara (Naylor) Huttenstine of Trafford and the late Billy H. Huttenstine. Brother of Daneen Matthews of Trafford; uncle of Marion, Terry, Marty, and Lisa Matthews. NO VISITATION. Burial was in Cross Roads Cemetery, Monroeville. Arrangements made by WM. O. PEARCE FUNERAL HOME INC., Pitcairn.
JOHN PAUL KELLY
John Paul "Kelly" Kelly, 92, formerly of Duquesne, born June 4, 1907, in Pittsburgh, died Wednesday, April 5, 2000, at McKeesport Hospital. Son of the late Alexander and Stephenia Kalinowski. Retired from U.S. Steel Irvin Works, where he worked in plant protection. Member of Christ the Light of the World Parish, Duquesne, and Teutonia Mannerchor Club in Duquesne. Husband of 68 years to Agnes (Fidel) Kelly. Father of the late Patricia Kelly. Surviving also are a sister, Helen Johnson of North Huntingdon; and a brother, Edward Skabinski of France. Also nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the MALOY-SCHLEIFER FUNERAL HOME, 915 Kennedy Ave., Duquesne. Mass of Christian Burial Friday at 11 a.m. in St. Hedwig Church, Duquesne. Burial St. Hedwig Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
SIMON F. KOVALIK
Simon F. "Sy" Kovalik, of Munhall, died Monday, April 3, 2000. Husband of the late Ann (Brendza); Father of Vincent of North Hills, Dr. Simon G. of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Kathleen Kovalik-Dacko of Hershey, Pa.; brother of Emma Joseph of Homestead and Gizella Kemmerer of Punxsutawney; also seven grandchildren. Friends will be received at the SAVOLSKIS-WASIK-GLENN FUNERAL HOME INC., 3501 Main St., Munhall, Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Therese Church, Munhall. He was a partner in East Liberty Electroplating.
