Obituaries by LocationFrances H. Lesh, 73, a lifelong resident of Coraopolis, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999, in the Mariner Health Care Center of West Hills. Born March 8, 1925, in Coraopolis, a daughter of the late Slavo and Frances (Stanchic) Lesh, she was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Coraopolis. She retired in 1988 from R.B.W. after 26 years in the Shipping Department. Surviving are two sisters, Julie Furdak, in Florida, and Justine Montibeller, Coraopolis, and three brothers, Walter Lesh, in Maine; Robert Lesh, Glenwillard, and George "Cookie" Lesh, Kennedy Township; cousins, Judith and Victor Montibeller, Coraopolis, and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, John Lesh. Friends will be received today and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the COPELAND CORAOPOLIS FUNERAL HOME, 867 Fifth Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, with Rev. Father Lawrence Holpp, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Sophia (Gvoic) Mancini, 84, of Hopewell Township, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in UPMC - Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh. Born June 19, 1914, in Aliquippa, a daughter of the late Eli and Mary Gvoic, she was a member of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, Aliquippa; St. Elijah Serbian Church Circle of Serbian Sisters, and SNF Zora Lodge. She was employed by the former Clover Farms Store, Aliquippa, which her father owned. Sophia was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother and a proud grandmother. She will be sadly missed by her husband, Carmen Mancini; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Jenny Mancini, and Robert and Robin Mancini; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lynn and Kent Brooks, all of Atlanta, Ga.; three grandchildren, Marjorie, Laura and Natalie, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Mancini was preceded in death by a brother, George Govic, and two sisters, Anna Howard and Martha West. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the WAYNE N. TATALOVICH FUNERAL HOME, 2205 McMinn St., Aliquippa, where a service will be conducted Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by an additional service at 10 a.m. in St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, Aliquippa. Entombment will follow in Sylvania Hills Mausoleum, Daugherty Township.
Nicholas P. Matoic, 83, of Fallston, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born March 12, 1915, in Sewickley, a son of the late Nicholas and Barbara Bankovich Matoic, he was a retired self-employed truck driver and was a member of the Holy Family Parish Church, New Brighton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Krkuc Matoic, in 1997. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Nicholas F. and Dorothy Hunter Matoic, Fallston; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and John J. Rotuna, Beaver; six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. in the HUNTSMAN ROCHESTER FUNERAL HOME, 502 Adams St., where a service will be conducted Friday at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. in the Holy Family Parish Church, New Brighton. Interment will be in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park. A Christian wake service will be held today at 8:45 p.m. in the funeral home.
Erwin A. "Pat" McMorran, 90, of Chippewa Township, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999, in the Beaver Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, South Beaver Township. Born April 23, 1908, in Fox Chapel, a son of the late Russell C. and Elizabeth (Lebo) McMorran, he was retired from the West Mayfield plant of the Babcock & Wilcox Company in yard shipping. He was Catholic by faith and a member of Senior Citizens of Beaver County. He was also an avid bowler and golfer. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Mildred A. Young McMorran, whom he married Oct. 10, 1935; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn McMorran, Fallston, Md.; a sister, Marion Claus, Etna, Pa., and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sons, William E. McMorran in 1942 and Robert "Bob" McMorran in 1998. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the LUTTON CHIPPEWA FUNERAL HOME, 117 Blackhawk Rd., where a blessing service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m., with Father J. Francis Frazer of St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Chippewa Township. A prayer service will be held Friday at 8:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
Olga C. Mercadante, 78, of Fair Oaks (Leet Township), died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, following an extended illness. Born Jan. 30, 1921, in Punxsutawney, Pa., a daughter of the late George and Susan Golias Malenich, she had resided in Fair Oaks for the past 40 years. She was a member of the Good Samaritan Parish and attended Christ the King Worship Site. Surviving are her husband, Charles J. Mercadante; a son, Charles R. Mercadante, Fair Oaks; two daughters and a son-in-law, Carol Tkatch, and Nancy and Thomas Throckmorton, all of Baden; six grandchildren, Laura Buck, Dru Tkatch, Neil Tkatch and Julie Throckmorton, all of Baden, and Scott Mrkobrad and Bradley Mrkobrad, both of Aliquippa; three great-grandchildren, Brandon and Aadan Buck, and Philip Tkatch; two brothers and a sister-in-law, John Malenich, Fair Oaks, and Robert and Ella Mae Malenich, Sewickley, and a sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Robert Crawford, Bradford Woods. She was preceded in death by two brothers, George and Peter Paul Malenich, and a sister, Anna Bosh. Friends will be received today from 2 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. until time of service at noon in the JOHN SYKA FUNERAL HOME, 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 12:30 p.m. in Christ the King Worship Site, Ambridge. The Rev. Father Ken Kezmarsky will officiate. Interment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Daugherty Township.
Catherine R. Miller, 75, of Glenwillard, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in Mariner Nursing Center, West Hills. Born Sept. 16, 1923, in Bridgeport, Conn., a daughter of the late John and Gertrude (Diamond) Friedl, she was a graduate of Ambridge High School, and was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Wireton, Pa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph C. Miller, in 1992, and three brothers, Jack, James and Charles Friedl. She is survived by three sons and one daughter and their spouses: John C. and Barbara Miller, Beaver Falls; Joseph C. and Phyllis Miller, and Timothy R. and Elaine Miller, both of Wilmington, N.C., and Darlene Miller and Edwin Huff, Boston, Mass., nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the HUNTSMAN ALIQUIPPA FUNERAL HOME, 2345 Mill St., where a service will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Wireton, with Pastor Father Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Hopewell Township. Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to the Handicap Accessible Fund of St. Catherine's Church, 20 McGovern Blvd., Wireton, Pa. 15046.
Margaret Rebecca Garrett Minton, 95, of Passavant Retirement Center, Zelienople, and formerly of Beaver, passed away in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Jan. 26, 1903, in Beaver, a daughter of the late Thomas Emerson and Jessie Banks Garrett, she was a retired secretary. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Beaver, and the Hodge Band of the church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Bradly Minton. Surviving are a daughter, Suzanne Morton Peller, New York, N.Y., and four grandchildren, John Banks Peller, Stephen Morton, Julie Morton Baldinger, and Matthew Morton. A funeral service will be conducted Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at 10 a.m. in the chapel of the Beaver Cemetery Mausoleum. The Rev. Carl Neely of Trinity Episcopal Church, Beaver, will officiate. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery. The ZURIK FUNERAL HOME, Corner of Second and Market Streets, Beaver, was in charge of arrangements.
Mike E. Pushak, 68, of Center Township, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999, in UPMC-Pittsburgh. Born Nov. 21, 1930, in Ambridge, a son of the late Frank Theodore and Maria (Mycak) Pushak, he was a retired employee of the Welded Tube Department of LTV Steel, Aliquippa. He was a member of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, Aliquippa, and the SNF Vidovdan Lodge 188. He was a U.S. Army corporal serving during the Korean Conflict. Surviving are his wife, Ivanna "Toots" (Mihajlovich) Pushak; two sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen and Caroline Pushak, Aliquippa, and Michael and Cathy Pushak, Moon Township; a daughter and son-in-law, Kristine and Alan Peretic, Center Township; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank and Nadiya Pushak, New Brighton, and John B. and Barb Pushak, Aliquippa; a sister, Nancy Thomas, Aliquippa; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rada and Vukie Mihajlovich, Ambridge; a special nephew, John Pushak and his family, Baden; a dear family friend, Nancy Pushak, Baden, and many other nieces and nephews. Friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the WAYNE N. TATALOVICH FUNERAL HOME, 2205 McMinn St., Aliquippa, where a service will be conducted Saturday at 11:30 a.m., followed by an additional service at 12 noon in St. Elijah Serbian Church, Aliquippa. Interment will follow in the St. Elijah Serbian Church Cemetery, Hopewell Township. Pomen (blessing service) will be held Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Full military rites will be conducted by the Beaver County Special Unit.
Lyle S. Rankin, 71, of New Sewickley Township, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born April 30, 1927, in Ohioville, a son of the late Leslie and Eulah Douds Rankin, he was a retired self-employed carpenter contractor. A Presbyterian by faith, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and was a former member and officer of the Pine Run Sportsmen's Club. He was known for his extensive collection of books and movie films. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred Ash Rankin, in 1967; a half brother, Kenneth Rankin, and a half sister, Ruth Blair. Surviving are his wife, Frances G. Whipple Rankin; four stepsons and two daughters-in-law, Delbert Ash, White Township; Donald Ash, Rochester; Gale and Susan Patti, New Sewickley Township, and John and Leslie Rizzi, New Sewickley Township; a stepdaughter, Faye Patti Acon, Daugherty Township; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Jane M. (Rankin) and James Miller, Koppel; a half sister, Pauline Z. Petrulis, Detroit Lakes, Minn., and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the WILLIAM MURPHY FUNERAL HOME INC., 349 Adams St., Rochester, where a service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Rudolph Bischoff, pastor of the House of Mercy Lutheran Church, will officiate. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Freedom.
Joseph F. Srubek, 93, of Center Township, Monaca, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in his home. Mr. Srubek was born Dec. 28, 1905, in Czechoslovakia. He was a retired employee of the Aliquippa Works, Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., where he worked in the seamless tube department. Mr. Srubek was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, Center Township; Fraternal Order of Eagles, Lodge 1365, Ambridge; Aliquippa Local 1211, United Steelworkers of America, and the Ambridge Sokols. He was also a gymnastic instructor and traveled with a gym team for many years. Surviving are his wife of 43 years, Stella (Kolavic-Kwolek) Srubek; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. James and Ann Srubek, in New Mexico, and Edward and Virginia (Bunky) Kwolek, Hopewell Township; two daughters and a son-in-law, Frances "Sis" Barr, Center Township, and Jane and Edward Yager, Center Township; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Srubek was preceded in death by his first wife, Ann Srubek; a brother, and two sisters. Friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. in the MASTRO-FRANCESCO FUNERAL HOME, 21st and McMinn Streets, Aliquippa, where a service will be conducted Friday at 11:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at noon in St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Center Township. The Rev. Chuck Baptiste, parochial vicar, will officiate. Entombment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum, Daugherty Township. A wake service will be held today at 8:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
