Obituaries by LocationPaul T. Slane, 78, of Plum Borough died Nov. 27, 2000, at St. Francis Hospital.
Born in Braddock, he was the son of Thomas and Verna Englehart Slane. Mr. Slane was a retired repair technician with D&D television repair. He was a veteran of World War II.
Surviving are his wife, Mary O'Toole Slane; his children, _Kathy Slane McChesney, Kevin Slane, Joan Adams, Louise Slane, Terry Slane, Larry Slane and Janine Fresh.; a brother, James Slane; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Friends were received at Maurice L. Knee Ltd. Funeral Home. Services were at St. Januarius Church. Interment was at Twin Valley Cemetery.
SISTER M. ALEXINE BEAM, S.C.
Sister M. Alexine Beam, S.C., 92, an outstanding high school science teacher for more than 45 years, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at Jeannette District Memorial Hospital. Born Feb. 20, 1907, in the Crafton section of Pittsburgh, to George S. and Catherine V. (Collins) Beam, Sister M. Alexine entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill from St. Philip Parish, Crafton, on Nov. 1, 1923. She earned a bachelor of science from Seton Hill College in 1940, a master of science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1943, and a master of arts from St. Mary, Notre Dame, in 1955. During an active ministry which spanned 60 years, Sister M. Alexine inspired and challenged high school students in biology, other sciences, and religion. Students of St. James High School (West End), St. Luke (Carnegie), Sacred Heart (East Liberty) and Greensburg Central Catholic benefited from her skill as an educator. That talent was acknowledged by state, civic, commercial and educational associations in more than 13 citations and awards. Invited to collaborate with Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc., Sister M. Alexine created a set of overhead transparencies to accompany "Modern Biology 1969." After retiring in the late 1980s, Sister continued to tutor until ill health made this impossible. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, William, and a sister, Mrs. John (Hilda) McGann. She is survived by nieces. Friends will be received Friday from 1:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Caritas Christi, Mt. Thor Road, Greensburg. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of the Assumption, Caritas Christi, Mt. Thor Road. Burial in Sisters' Cemetery, Seton Hill, Greensburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity, DePaul Center, Mt. Thor Road, Greensburg, PA 15601.
JOHN C. DEBERSON
John C. Deberson, of Carrick, on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999. Husband of the late Julia (Katyryneck) Deberson. Father of Judith Ann Powers, Denise J. (Thomas) Roslonski and John J. (Sherry) Deberson. Brother of the late Rita Loper. Brother-in-law of Sophie Simon and the late Anne Cherry. Also survived by seven grandchildren. Visitations Friday 12-9 p.m. at the BORON FUNERAL HOME INC., 1719 Brownsville Road, Carrick. Relatives and friends invited to attend his funeral Saturday at 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Basil Church at 11:30 a.m. Member of F.O.P. Lodge #1 and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorials may be made to the Julia Deberson Fund, c/o Civic Light Opera, 719 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 - Attention: Jim Mercer.
DELBERT A. HALL SR.
Delbert A. Hall Sr., of Connellsville, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at his home. He was born Sept. 28, 1928, a son of the late Andrew "Andy" Hall and Audrey (Summers) Hall of Opekiska, W.Va. He was a graduate of Connellsville High School, Class of 1947. He was retired from the former Anchor Cap and its successor Newill Closure Co. Plant 5 with 31 years of service. He was a member of the Christian Church of Connellsville. He is survived by two sons, Delbert A. Hall Jr. and his wife, Kim, of Connellsville and David Allen Hall of Connellsville; two granddaughters, Kalee Hall and Paige Hall of Connellsville; two sisters, Margaret (John) Bisher of Everson and Irene Kooser (Frank) Smith of Smithfield; also a number of nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service at the Christian Church of Connellsville Saturday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Joey Hickok officiating. It is a celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Diabetes Association in his memory.
OTTO L. SAUNIER JR.
Otto L. Saunier Jr., 61, of Moon Township, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999. Beloved husband of CarolAnn Davis Saunier. Father of Brian and his wife, Lynn Saunier, and Beth and her husband, Bernie Herrmann. Brother of Patricia Wall. Also, eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Visitation Thursday and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at COPELAND'S MOON TOWNSHIP, 981 Brodhead Road. Funeral Saturday at 9 a.m. Mass in St. Margaret Mary Church at 9:30 a.m.
M. BLANCHE SHAFFER
M. Blanche Shaffer, 81, of Penn Run, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at Indiana Hospital. Daughter of Edward Barr and Vernie Johns Barr, she was born June 13, 1918, in Heilwood. Mrs. Shaffer lived all of her life in Indiana County and worked as a secretary and salesperson for Ager Appliances, Indiana. She was a member of First Christian Church, Pine Flats, Penn Run Senior Citizens, and many community affairs. Mrs. Shaffer is survived by a daughter, Janet Ager of Jeannette; two brothers, William Barr of Indiana and Charles Barr of Diamondville; a sister, Joette Shaffer of Indiana; two grandchildren, Kevin Ager and Kelly Weightman; and two great-grandchildren, Dustin and Paige Ager. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale H. Shaffer; two brothers, Clair and John Barr; a sister, Elizabeth Cramer; and two grandsons, Brian and Curtis Ager. Friends were received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at ROBINSON-LYTLE INC., Indiana, where services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Randy L. Elsea officiating. Interment will be in Brush Valley Lutheran Cemetery.
HELEN SOYKA RISKU
Helen Soyka Risku, 77, of West Newton (Collinsburg), died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg. She was born Feb. 9, 1922, in Collinsburg, a daughter of the late John and Julia Nichols Soyka. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William J. Risku, in 1968. She is survived by five children, John William "Bill" Risku of Elizabeth, Regis Risku of Collinsburg, Carol Boyd of Fellsburg, Susan Keefer and Sandra Calcagni, both of West Newton; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at the J. WILLIAM McCAULEY JR. FUNERAL HOME INC., West Newton, Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Michael A. Milinovich officiating. Interment West Newton Cemetery.
LOUETTA Z. (SCHAKE) WILSON
Louetta Z. (Schake) Wilson, 95, of Pitcairn, on Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999. Wife of the late Raymond J. "Woody" Wilson; mother of Imogene Artman of North Huntingdon and the late Carl W. Wilson. Sister of Jack Schake of Irwin, Richard Schake of Jeannette, Louise Wall of Export, Faye Indrunas of Florida and Virginia DelTorrie of Turtle Creek. Also survived by eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Friends received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the WM. O. PEARCE FUNERAL HOME INC., 318 Wall Ave., Pitcairn, where service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m.
MARY SUE (BOVINGTON) JOHNSON
Mary Sue (Bovington) Johnson, 70, of Mt. Lebanon, died peacefully at home on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1928, to the late John R. and Helen Pettibone. She graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts in 1951; married C. Bayard Johnson Jr. in 1958; and settled in Pittsburgh in 1971. She is survived by her loving husband, Bayard; daughters and sons-in-law, Cam and Greg Allen of Mt. Lebanon and Gail Johnson and Tim Elgren of Clinton, N.Y.; daughter, Molly Johnson of Seattle, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, Bayard and Karen Johnson of St. Louis, Mo.; and six grandchildren, Robby, Brad, Scott, Ruth, Ben and Bay. She is also survived by her brother, John R. Bovington of Cleveland, Ohio. She was a dedicated, active grandmother, a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church and active in numerous church and community activities, including Southminster choir, women's hand bell team and AFS student exchange. Her family gratefully acknowledges the outpouring of support throughout the past few months from friends near and far, as well as the caring guidance and support of the Family Hospice. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 13, at 9:30 a.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon. Sue expressed wishes that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Southminster Presbyterian Church music program, Mt. Lebanon, Pa., the Mt. Lebanon Public Library or Family Hospice, Mt. Lebanon.
LOUISE (BLYSTONE) MENSCH
Louise (Blystone) Mensch, 75, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at her home in Richland, Mich. Formerly of the Mt. Pleasant area, she was a daughter of the late Irene and Kenneth Blystone. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford A. Mensch; a sister, Adah Belle Kampitch; and a brother, Darrell T. Blystone. She is survived by her sons, Clifford Mensch of California, John Mensch and Kenneth Mensch of Michigan; daughters, Lena Koger of Galesburg, Mich., and Cathy Banks of Cadillac, Mich.; a brother, Robert J. Blystone of Hancock, Md.; and a sister, Phyllis Carns of Greensburg. She is also survived by six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Services were held at FARLEY-ESTES & DOWDLE FUNERAL HOME, Richland, Mich. Interment followed at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
