Obituaries by LocationSamuel Slate, Ruffsdale
Samuel Slate, 84, of Ruffsdale, died early this morning, Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, in Westmoreland Manor, Greensburg. Arrangements are under the direction of the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 406 E. Washington St., Mount Pleasant, and will be announced when completed.
James S. Swearer, Warren, Ohio
James S. Swearer, 72, of Warren, Ohio, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, at 1 p.m., in his home. He was born June 4, 1928, in Fayette City, Pa., son of the late James and Rose Marie Celepino Swearer. James was a veteran of World War II serving with the U.S. Navy and Marines. James was also a retired engineer from the PL&E Railroad. He is survived by one brother, John Robert Swearer of Vanderbilt; two nieces, Mrs. Craig (Lori A.) Laraia of Castle Rock, Colo., and Miss Stacey Aultman of Virginia Beach, Va. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Swearer on July 28, 1978; and a sister, Carolyn L. Aultman on April 9, 1997. Friends will be received in the BLAIR-LOWTHER FUNERAL HOME INC., 106 E. Independence St., Perryopolis, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Monday until 10 a.m., the hour of service, with Pastor Gary L. Alberding officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Washington Cemetery, Perryopolis. Graveside military rites will be accorded by Perryopolis VFW Post 7023 and American Legion Post #752.
Ben A. Vaccari, Connellsville
Ben A. Vaccari, 82, of Connellsville, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000, in Highlands Hospital, Connellsville. He was born April 29, 1918, in Connellsville, a son of the late Nicola and Marie Martrano Vaccari. Ben was employed at Connellsville Sportswear for most of his life and he also worked as a coal miner. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force serving during World War II. He was also a graduate of Connellsville High School and a member of the Sons of Italy of Connellsville, the B.P.O. Elks #503, former member of Club 14, member of the V.F.W. and American Legion of Connellsville and he was a member of St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church, Connellsville. He was a beloved brother and uncle and is survived by two sisters, Ange Vaccari of Connellsville, with whom he resided and Mary Gasbarro of Lanham, Md.; one brother, Nick Vaccari and his wife, Minnie, of Wickliffe, Ohio; one brother-in-law, Harry Delmar of Connellsville; and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by four sisters, Carmella Howard, Rose Delmar and Lucy and Caroline Vaccari. Friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A blessing service will be held Monday at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Rita's RC Church, Connellsville, with the Rev. Frank Lesniowski as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Rita's Cemetery. A parish wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.
Victor F. Zemanski, Everson
Victor "Dutch" F. Zemanski, 88, of Broadford Road, Everson, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, in Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant. He was born March 4, 1912, in Everson, a son of the late Simon and Salamonea Bajger Zemanski. He was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Everson. He was a retired crane operator with U.S. Steel, Homestead Works with 32 years service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II with Co. H 307th Infantry 77th Division as a heavy machine gunner. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal for shrapnel wounds received in Leyte Dec. 19, 1944, from enemy fire. He also received the Expert and Combat Infantry Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, two Bronze Battle Stars attaining the rank of private. He was a member of the Everson V.F.W. Post and an avid hunter. He is survived by wife, Pearl A. Backes Magaritz Zemanski; two stepsons, Peter Robert Magaritz and his wife, Maureen, of East McKeesport and Franklin A. Magaritz of Everson; five stepgrandchildren; four sisters, Stephanie Fabiszewski of Elsworth, Ann Nyzc of Ford City, Veronica "Vern" Fedorek and her husband, Jack, of Everson, Cecilia P. Pisula of Everson and brother, Frank "Happy" P. Ziemianski of Scottdale; and his extended family, Cathy Fedorek Greenawalt and her husband, Frank, and their children of Scottdale. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, John, Michael, Joseph, Paul and Leo and sister, Josephine McGivern. Friends will be received in the FRANK KAPR FUNERAL HOME, INC., 417 W. Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A blessing service will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home followed by his funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph RC Church, Everson. Interment will follow in St. Joseph RC Parish Cemetery with full military honors accorded at the grave site.
Sara Jane Poole
Sara Jane "Sally" Poole, born Feb. 18, 1930, in Scottdale, to the late Wilmer S. and Clara Loucks Werry. She was preceded in death by her husband, John N. Poole, in 1983. Both were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Twin Run Road, Greensburg. There are no survivors. Memorial contributions may be made to her church or a charity of choice. At Sally's request, a private funeral was held Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000. JAY A. HOFFER FUNERAL HOME, Norvelt, is in charge of arrangements. Sandra L. Hoffer, funeral director.
Patricia Stammerman
Patricia Rabatin Stammerman, 55, of Louisville, Ky., formerly of Perryopolis, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, in her home. She was born July 3, 1945, at Charleroi, daughter of the late Joseph and Amelia Swiantek Rabatin. A graduate of Mary Fuller Frazier High School Class of 1963, Robert Morris College Class of 1965 and California University, California, Pa., Class of 1967, and a member of the Alumni Association of both colleges. She was recruited to teach in Anne Arundel County School System, Maryland, for the 1967-68 school term. Patty also taught in San Angelo, Texas; Bankok, Thailand; Chantilly, Va.; and Kuwait City, Kuwait. She was employed at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, and worked as a community liaison coordinator at the embassy in Kuwait. Prior to settling in Louisville, she lived in Fairfax, Manassas and Alexandria, Va. Patty worked for EG&G Washington Analytical Services, Inc.; National Concrete Masonry Association and Pulte Home Corp. Los Alamos, N.M., was home from 1992-94. Patty also received an award from the U.S. Secretary of State in 1991 for her volunteer work in Dhahran. Patty was active in the church wherever she lived. She taught religious education and participated in various prayer groups. She was co-coordinator of prayerful cancer support group, entitled Touch By Cancer. She was presently a happy member of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville. She had special affection for St. Timothy's Prayer Group and St. Timothy's Parish, Chantilly, Va. Her hometown parish was St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Perryopolis. Patty loved to travel, especially in the Mediterranean areas of the world. She loved the Holy Land, the Sea of Galilee being her favorite spot on all the earth. Patty kept photo journals. Patty took great joy in flowers and things of nature. Her cancer (Adenocarcinoma/lung cancer) was discovered in February 1994. She lived an active and full life enjoying family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth A. Stammerman of Louisville; stepson, Clifford A. Stammerman of Washington D.C.; sister, Rosemarie Matty of Naperville, Ill.; two nieces, Heather Matty of Norwood Park, Ill. and Holly Matty of Naperville, Ill.; aunts and uncles, Mrs. Mary Rabatin Schlagel of Philadelphia, Anthony Rebatin and Mrs. Katherine Rabatin, both of Perryopolis, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Swiantek and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Swiantek, all of Perryopolis, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Swiantek of Vanderbilt, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Luce (Marge) of Rockwood, Mrs. Elizabeth Swianteke.
Kathryn Nedley, Eighty-Four
Kathryn Nedley, 93, of Eighty-Four, Pa., formerly of Juniata, died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, in the Humbert Lane Nursing Home, Washington, Pa. She was born Aug. 10, 1907, in Leith, Pa., a daughter of the late John and Mary Stanya Marcinek. Kathryn was a loving homemaker, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She had been a resident in Eighty-Four since 1989; was a member of the Memory Chapel of Vanceville; and was a former member of the Church of the Open Door in Connellsville. She is survived by three daughters, Dorothy Miller and husband Otto of Ohio, Evelyn Moses and husband Thornton of Willowick, Ohio, and Geraldine Prijatelj and husband Charles of Eighty-Four; six sons, Charles J. Nedley and wife Shirley of Florida, Ernest E. Nedley and wife Doris of Uniontown, Ronald E. Nedley and wife Rosemarie of Fairfax, Va., Roger L. Nedley and wife Georgianne of Willowick, Ohio, Thomas R. Nedley and wife Sandra of Mentor, Ohio, and William M. Nedley of San Jose, Calif.; 22 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; two brothers, Steve Marcinek of Uniontown and George Marcinek of Willowick, Ohio; a sister, Helen Geary of Connellsville. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Charles Edwin Nedley, in 1989; four sisters, Betty Frankos, Margaret Karkolis, Annie Frankos and Mary Sosnak; and four brothers, Andrew, John, William and Joseph Marcinek. Friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, Sunday and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Robert Drodge officiating. A committal service and interment will follow in the Bowman Flatwoods Cemetery.
Walter J. Czekaj
Walter J. "Jake" Czekaj, 86, of Mount Pleasant, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, in Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant. Mr. Czekaj was predeceased by a granddaughter, Debra Czekaj, who died in 1959 and a grandson, Walter Jacob "Jake" Czekaj II, in 1992. Friends will be received at the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 406 E. Washington St., Mount Pleasant, today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. A blessing service will be held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in the Transfiguration RC Church, Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Michael Matusak as celebrant. Interment will follow in Transfiguration Cemetery. The Transfiguration Holy Rosary Society will recite the rosary Wednesday at 6 p.m. and a parish wake service will be held at 8:30 p.m., both in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Transfiguration RC Church, Mount Pleasant or to the Jake Czekaj Memorial Environmental Foundation, c/o Theodore and Esther Czekaj, Mount Pleasant.
William E. Buncutter
William E. (Bill) Buncutter, 76, of Connellsville passed away Monday, Dec. 4, 2000, in West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was born March 24, 1924, in South Connellsville, a son of the late Violet Buncutter. He was a Protestant by faith. Bill was a World War II U.S. Air Force veteran. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the AFLSA with three Oak Leaf Clusters Medal. Bill is survived by a very close cousin, who was very special to him throughout the years, Alfred Fullem of Connellsville, and also Alfred's late wife, Betty. Bill is also survived by the following cousins, Linda Hutchinson, James Fullem, William Kenny Fullem and Tammy Fullem, all of Connellsville. Bill is also survived by Debbie and Joseph Burton of Fairbanks, who were his caregivers and with whom he also resided with. In addition to his mother, he was predeceased by his grandmother, Mary Lou Collins. Friends will be received in the VITO C. MARTUCCI FUNERAL HOME, 123 S. First St., West Side, Connellsville, Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday until noon, the hour of service with the Rev. Dr. Marvin Watson officiating. Interment will follow in Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Mill Run.
Roy E. Dillinger
Roy E. Dillinger, 87, of Scottdale, R.D.1, passed away Monday evening, Dec. 4, 2000, in Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant. Funeral arrangements are being personalized by the ROBERT B. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME, 105 Spring St., Scottdale (724-887-5300/e-mail:fergfh@alusa.net) and will be announced when completed.
Eva M. Poorbaugh
Eva M. Poorbaugh, 85, of Hawkeye, passed away Monday evening Dec. 4, 2000, in the Harmon House Convalescent Center, Mount Pleasant. Funeral arrangements are being personalized by the ROBERT B. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME, 105 Spring St., Scottdale (724-887-5300/e-mail:fergfh@alusa.net) and will be announced when completed.
Wendell L. Stewart
Wendell L. Stewart, 63, of Dawson, R.D.1, died Monday night, Dec. 4, 2000, in Frick Hospital in Mount Pleasant. He was born in Vanderbilt Sept. 4, 1937, a son of the late Lewis and Myrtle Childs Stewart. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, DeAnn Marie Stewart, and an infant sister, Joyce Stewart. He served with the U.S. Navy for eight years. He was a member of the Cactus Golf League, Jefferson Estate Golf League and the Sons of Italy of Perryopolis. Surviving are his wife, Patricia A. Harkins Stewart; three sons, David L. Stewart and his fiancee, April, of Dawson, Wendell G. Stewart and Richard A. Stewart, both of Dawson, R.D.1; a daughter, Melissa A. Batronis and her husband, James, of Green Castle, Pa.; four brothers, Duane Stewart and his wife, Dolores, of Dunbar, Gerald Stewart and his wife, Mary, of Perryopolis, Thomas Stewart and his wife, Bev, of Emporium, Pa., and Barry Stewart of Vanderbilt; one sister, Dorothy Bradley and her husband, Donald, of Vanderbilt; and two grandchildren, Katherine Nicole Price is Right was a daily routine for Roy. He would talk to anyone who would stand still to listen. Roy is survived by two sons, Don Bowser and his wife, Meriel of Mill Run and Duane Bowser and his wife, Birdie of Normalville; seven grandchildren, Pam Hughes, Carol Hull, Selena Tressler, Roy E. Bowser, Laverne Hager, Charles Bowser and Denise King; 10 great-grandchildren, Laurie Hoke, Kathy Hull, Leah and Jimmy Hughes, Angela and Stacey Musto, Zachary Tressler, Shania Bowser and Jonathan and Patrick Hager; two sisters, Lena Bietzel and her husband, Earnest, of Accident, Md., and Mary Thornburg of Astor, Fla.; a brother, Charles Bowser of Accident; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Theadoshia Frantz Bowser on April 18, 1987; his brothers, Joseph and Freeman Bowser; a sister, Betty Williams; and a daughter-in-law, Edith Bowser. Family and friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held Friday at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. John Davis officiating. A committal service and interment will follow in the Normalville Cemetery.
Mary Weimer
St. Charles, Mo.
Formerly of Scottdale
Mary Shutterly Weimer, 85, of St. Charles, Mo., formerly of South Broadway, Scottdale, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001, in Blanchette Place, St. Charles, Mo. Mary's family will receive friends in the FRANK KAPR FUNERAL HOME INC., 417 W. Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. A blessing service will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home followed by her funeral mass to be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. John the Baptist RC Church, Scottdale, with the Rev. Leonard W. Stoviak as celebrant. Graveside services and interment will follow in St. John the Baptist RC Parish Cemetery, Scottdale. The family suggests memorials be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Mary S. Weimer.
