Obituaries by LocationKelly Brianne Leasher
Kelly Brianne Leasher, 21, of Bacchus Marsh, Australia, formerly of Evans City, died from a rare form of cancer April 17 in Melbourne, Australia.
She was born Sept. 25, 1980, at Passavant Hospital, McCandless.
Ms. Leasher attended Seneca Valley High School and graduated from the Bacchus Marsh Secondary College, Maddingley Campus, and the Laurel’s for Computer Technology in Australia.
She worked for the Australian Postal Service in Melbourne.
She played softball for the Evans City Athletic Association and was a cheerleader for the Seneca Valley North Junior Football League. She also was a junior firefighter for Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Department.
Surviving are her father, Larry T. Leasher of Chicora; her mother, Joyce M. Burgard Dakin of Houston, Texas; her stepfather, Brian Dakin of Houston; a brother, Matthew D. Leasher of Evans City; a sister, Erin R. Leasher-Grubbs of Evans City; and a stepsister, Theresa Allen of Australia.
She also is survived by her paternal grandparents, Thomas and Doris Funkhouser Leasher of Evans City; her maternal grandparents, Richard and Frances Allshouse Burgard of Evans City; and aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
A sister preceded her in death.
LEASHER - A memorial service for Kelly Brianne Leasher, who died Wednesday, April 17, 2002, will be held at noon Saturday at First Baptist Church, 242 S. Washington St., Evans City.
Arrangements are by BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME, Evans City.
Vinnett S. Reamer
Vinnett S. Reamer, 86, of Hannahstown Road died Thursday at Allegheny Valley Hospital, Natrona Heights.
Born in Butler, Aug. 27, 1915, she was the daughter of Lawrence and Florence Lonitz Smyers.
She was a homemaker and enjoyed flower gardening.
Mrs. Reamer was a member of Homeacre Chapel.
She is survived by a son, Charles R. Reamer of Meridian; four daughters, Mrs. Donald (Shirley) Lippold of Austintown, Ohio, and Mrs. Mark (Patricia) Olesnevich, Mrs. John (Beverly) Stephenson and Mrs. Barbara Thomas, all of Butler; 13 grandchildren; a step-granddaughter; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a brother, Lawrence Smyers Jr. of Butler; and a sister, Florence Krumpe of Butler.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence C. Reamer, who died Oct. 24, 1995; seven sisters; and a brother.
REAMER - Friends of Vinnett S. Reamer, who died Thursday, May 9, 2002, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at FOX FUNERAL HOME, Saxonburg. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. David Fisher, her church pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Saxonburg Memorial Church Cemetery .
John Bega
John Bega, 84, of Butler died at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born May 3, 1918, in Lyndora, he is the son of Frank and Anna Pezsak Bega.
He had retired from the slab grinding department at Armco-Butler Works.
Mr. Bega was a World War II Army veteran and was promoted private first class to staff sergeant in one promotion. He was a member of American Legion Post 778 and the Disabled American Veterans.
He was well-known for his walking and was interested in metallurgy and finance.
Surviving are his wife, Genevieve DeFoggi Bega; a daughter, Mrs. Albert (Marcia) Thomas of Butler; a son, David Bega of Venango County; and two grandchildren. He also is survived by three sisters, Mary Derkics and Margaret Long, both of Butler, and Ann Bahry of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; a brother, Nick Bega of Portland, Ore*.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Private services were at YOUNG FUNERAL HOME. The Rev. William Glassman, pastor of Meridian Church of the Living Word, officiated. Burial was at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut.
Graveside military honors were conducted by VFW Post 249.
Memorial donations may be made to the Butler County Humane Society, 1027 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053; or to Rainbow Animal Refuge Inc., P.O. Box 145, Lyndora, PA 16045.
John Bega
John Bega, 84, of Butler, who died Wednesday, May 8, 2002, is survived by a brother, Nick Bega of Camas, Wash. His residence was incorrect in the obituary in Friday’s newspaper.
Mary A. Zemyan
Mary A. Zemyan, 84, of the Sunnyview Home in Butler, formerly of Butler Road and Rothen Avenue in Butler, died Thursday at Sunnyview.
Born in New Castle on Feb. 22, 1918, she was the daughter of Michael and Mary Michanik Zemyan.
She had worked as a nurse’s aide at the Vincentian Home for more than five years. She had formerly worked as a floor foreman at the Spaide Shirt Factory in Butler and also as a secretary for the Slovak Sokol.
Mrs. Zemyan was a member of St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church in Lyndora and was a former member of St. John Roman Catholic Church in Lyndora.
She was a member of the Slovak Sokol and the Ladies Guild at her church.
Surviving are a brother, Edward Zemyan of Wilmington, Del.; a brother-in-law, William J. Fisher of Butler; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A sister preceded her in death.
ZEMYAN - Friends of Mary A. Zemyan, who died Thursday, May 9, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church in Lyndora. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery .
Ethel Marie Widenhofer
Ethel Marie Widenhofer, 72, of 164 Portman Road died early Saturday morning at St. Johns Specialty Care Center in Mars.
Born in Fenelton on Dec. 19, 1929, she was the daughter of Thomas and Veronica Kabel McGuire.
She was a graduate of Butler High School and the Butler County Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.
She had worked as a registered nurse in the labor and delivery rooms of the hospital. She later worked as a private duty nurse and office nurse for Dr. Paul A. Hinchberger in Butler.
She and her husband had co-owned and operated the Roy Widenhofer and Sons Garage and Towing Co. in Butler, as well as the Summit Diner and Summit Mobile Home Parks.
Mrs. Widenhofer was a member a St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Butler, the Nurses Alumni of the Butler Hospital School of Nursing and the Catholic Daughters of America, Senior Court 443 in Butler.
Surviving are four sons, LeRoy J., Edward, Joseph and Walter Widenhofer, all of Butler; a daughter, Mary Dellenbach of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her husband, LeRoy J. Widenhofer Sr., whom she married on Oct. 9, 1954, died May 30, 1992.
A sister and two brothers also preceded her in death.
WIDENHOFER - Friends of Ethel Marie Widenhofer, who died May 11, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Entombment will be at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
The members of the Catholic Daughters of America will meet at 4 p.m. Monday at the funeral home to recite the rosary.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, PA, 16001, or to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235.
Lois Podgornik
Lois Podgornik, 88, of Saxonburg, formerly of Butler, died Thursday at Saxony Health Center.
Born May 11, 1913, in Saxonburg, she was the daughter of James and Mary Ann Love Walker.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Andrew’s United Presbyterian Church in Butler.
Surviving are a son, Gary Podgornik, of Saxonburg; a sister, Mrs. Ruth Kintz of Butler; a granddaughter; and a great-granddaughter.
Her husband, Andrew Podgornik, died Aug. 15, 1988.
A son also preceded her in death.
PODGORNIK - Friends of Lois Podgornik, who died Thursday, May 9, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at FOX FUNERAL HOME in Saxonburg. Services will follow at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. James R. Mohr II, pastor of St. Andrew’s United Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park.
Mabel Rape Woller
Mabel Rape Woller, 92, of Evans City died early today at her home.
Boylan Funeral Home, Evans City, is completing arrangements.
Thursday, February 7, 2002
Mary ‘Edith’ Conway
Mary “Edith” Conway, 96, of Boyers died at 10:15 a.m. Thursday at Sunnyview Nursing Home after an illness.
Born Aug. 17, 1905, in Danville, Ky., she was the daughter of Charles and Molly Graves Shelby.
She was a member of the Branchton United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women of the church.
Mrs. Conway was a 1926 graduate of Kentucky State Normal School and had been at cook at the Spot restaurant, now known as Family Tradition, in Harrisville.
She enjoyed gardening and her flowers.
Surviving are eight daughters, Mrs. Giles (Audrey) Royster of Akron, Ohio, Mrs. William (Marcella) Miner of Grove City, Agnes Conway of Boyers, Mrs. Theodore (Margaret) Tatum of Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Wilbur (Mary Alice) Smallwood of Butler, Odessa Conway of Franklin, Hazel Sheffield of New Brighton and Barbara Conway of Cheswick; and a son, Thomas Conway of Franklin. Also surviving are 27 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.
Her husband, Michael W. Conway, whom she married July 14, 1927, died Jan. 8, 1985. Three sons, seven sisters, two brothers and a great-grandchild preceded her in death.
CONWAY - Friends of Mary “Edith” Conway, who died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, West Sunbury. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Branchton United Methodist Church, 490 Branchton Road, Slippery Rock. The Rev. James Lewis, church pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at West Sunbury Union Cemetery .
Andrew A. Beck Sr.
Andrew A. Beck Sr., 86, of 202 E. McQuistion Road died Thursday at Butler Memorial Hospital after an illness.
Born in Butler, July 13, 1915, he was the son of Peter and Mary Penar Beck.
He retired from the coil warehouse at Armco-Butler Works after 39 years.
Mr. Beck had been a Republican committeeman for Butler Township’s 1st Ward, 2nd Precinct. He also had been a Cub Scout master and an institutional representative for McQuistion School Cub Pack 22.
He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, the 55 & Alive group at the church, VFW Post 249, Disabled American Veterans, Armco Veterans Club, American Association of Retired Persons, Butler Moose and a life member of the Butler Elks.
A World War II Army veteran, he served in the South Pacific with Co. A and Service Co., 187th Para-glider Infantry Regiment and the 11th Airborne Division in New Guinea, Leyte and the Luzon Islands campaigns in the Philippines and the military occupation of Japan.
He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Glider Badge, Distinguished Unit Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 3 bronze stars and the Philippines Liberation with two bronze stars.
Surviving are his wife, Philomen L. Acquaviva Beck; two sons, Andrew A. Beck Jr. of Connecticut and Robert A. Beck of Butler; two grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister.
BECK - Friends of Andrew A. Beck Sr., who died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Center Avenue. The Rev. James Dolan,. church pastor, will officiate. Entombment will be at Calvary Mausoleum.
The Bereavement Group of St. Michael Parish will hold a scriptural wake service at 3 p.m. Sunday at funeral home.
