Obituaries by LocationM. Jane Hepler
M. Jane Hepler, 84, of Mount Pleasant (Wooddale) died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2000, in the Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant. She was born Sept. 27, 1915, in Mount Pleasant, a daughter of the late Clyde and Mary Washabaugh Beal. Jane was a graduate of the former Ramsay High School in Mount Pleasant and she was formerly employed at Frick Hospital as a controller/business office manager where she worked for 25 years. She was a member of the Paradise United Methodist Church for over 50 years where she served as the church treasurer and a Sunday School teacher for over over 50 years. She was the chairperson of the Pastor-Parish Committee and she served on the recent 125th Anniversary Committee. On the United Methodist Church District Level, she served as a District Parsonage Trustee and the Lay Equalization Delegate to the Western Pennsylvania United Methodist Conference. She was also a member and past president of the United Methodist Women and since 1980 she served almost daily as a full-time volunteer of the Connellsville Community Ministries. Jane was a life member and past master of the Pleasant Valley Grange and she was also the longest living volunteer for the Bullskin Township Fair. She was a member and past treasurer of the Bullskin Township Lioness Club and a member of the Pleasant Valley Lions Club where she held several offices and she was recipient of the coveted Melvin Jones Fellow Award for her work in Lionism. In 1992, Jane received the Connellsville Chamber of Commerce Service Award. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Orton W. Hepler in 1980; six brothers, Russell, Clyde, John, Oliver, Lloyd and the Rev. William Beal; five sisters, Alma Keefer, Grace Crise, Nora Wilson, Elizabeth Daniels and Mary Basinger. She is survived by one son, Blaine Hepler and his wife, Linda, of Beaver; one daughter, Linda Rose and her husband, Louis, of Wooddale; eight grandchildren, Thomas Pietrzak and his wife, Cindy, of Landsale; Amy Landman and her husband, Roger, of Mount Pleasant, Densie Harrison of Arizona, David Hepler and his wife, Denise, of Georgia, Danny Hepler of Beaver, Darla Hepler of Arizona, Dawn Bufalini and her husband, Chris, of Beaver and Darin Hepler of Beaver; seven great-grandchildren, Tonya Hepler, Thomas Pietrzak III, Danny Hepler, Jr., Shayla and Reana Landman, and Ryan and Nathan Helper; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jane was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 406 E. Washington St., Mount Pleasant, today from 3 to 9 p.m. and on Wednesday from 1 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Paradise United Methodist Church with the Rev. Doug Burns and the Rev. Terry Guiste officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenlick Cemetery. The Pleasant Valley Lions Club will conduct memorial service at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Connellsville Community Ministries or to the Paradise United Methodist Church in memory of Mrs. Hepler.
Eugene L. Friel
Eugene L. Friel, 80, of 1012 Springfield Pike, Connellsville, passed away Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, in Uniontown Hospital. He was born June 19, 1919, in Connellsville, a son of the late Edward C. and Emma L. Dobrick Friel. He was a retired insurance salesman and a talented drummer musician. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Connellsville. He was a member and also past commander of VFW Post 21, was a member of the American Legion Post 301 and the A.M.U. Local 1, Passaic, N.J. He was a former member of the A.F.M. Local 417, and was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army. He is survived by his wife, Margaret A. Friel; three sons, Thomas R. Friel, Robert E. Friel and his wife, Denise, and John J. Friel and his wife, Debbie, all of Connellsville; a daughter, Leah J. Friel of Markleysburg; and four grandchildren, Terry and his wife, Cristal, and Christopher, both of Connellsville, and Anna and Emma, both of Dunbar. Friends will be received at the RICHARD KUCERA FUNERAL HOME, 127 E. Fairview Ave., Connellsville, today and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A blessing service will be held in the funeral home Wednesday at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception RC Church, Connellsville. Interment will follow in St. JosephÕs Cemetery with full military honors accorded by the American Legion Post 301 and the VFW Post 21.
Sally J. Smiley
Sally Jean Garletts Smiley, 61, of Dunbar, died Friday, Feb., 25, 2000, in Highlands Hospital, Connellsville. She was born June 11, 1938, in Dunbar, daughter of the late Wilbur and Evelyn Jolliffe Garletts. She was a homemaker and a member of Pechin Chapel. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a daughter, Michelle L. Smiley; a son, Mark D. Smiley; and two brothers, George and Richard Garletts. She is survived by children, Ronald K. Smiley and his wife, Janice, of Hopwood, Charles L. Smiley Jr. of Dunbar, Larry K. Smiley of Connellsville, Kimberly S. McDonough and her husband, David, of Dunbar; grandchildren, Christopher R. Turek and Sydney N. McDonough; brothers, Ronald, Wilbert, Gary, and Keith Garletts; sisters, Hilda Garletts, Sandy Rutter and Donna Cole; nieces and nephews. Friends will be received in the BURHANS-CROUSE FUNERAL HOME, 28 Connellsville St., Dunbar, today from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, until 11 a.m., the hour of service with Pastor Lee Maley officiating. Interment follows in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
William Theodore Niel
William Theodore Niel, 96, of Dickerson Run, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2000, in Eichers Family Home, Normalville. He was born Sept. 30, 1903, in Bell Township, Clearfield County, a son of the late Charles E. Niel and the late Mabel Dasher Niel Hess. He was a retired engineer from the P&LE Railroad, where he retired in 1971 after 51 years of service. He was very active in the Old Time Fiddlers Association and he was a member of the Vanderbilt Church of Christ. He is survived by two grandchildren, Charles Emerson Niel III and Marjorie Mae Niel; five great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandhchildren; two daughters-in-law, Mary Lee Niel of Dickerson Run and Beverly S. Niel of Lareen, Ariz.; one half-brother, William Hess and his wife, Marjorie, of New Millport, Pa.; and two half-sisters, Evelyn Clapsaddle of Mahaffey, Pa. and Virginia Weisgerber of Grampian, Pa. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Della Ghrist Niel; two sons, Charles Emerson Niel Jr and William Thomas Niel; and two half-brothers, Stanley and Leslie Hess. Friends were received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Funeral services were held today at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. John Barchey officiating. Interment followed in the Dickerson Run Union Cemetery.
Kathryn G. Miller
Kathryn G. Miller, 98, of South Connellsville went to be with her Lord on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, in Highlands Hospital, Connellsville. She was born Dec. 12, 1901, in Mill Run, a daughter of the late Lloyd F. and Etta Florence Hiltabidel Gallentine. Kathryn was a resident of Connellsville and South Connellsville all of her life. She was employed by the Davidson Connellsville Coal and Coke Co., Stone and Company and by Irene M. Landefeld of the Barner Hood and VanNatta Agency. She was a graduate of Connellsville High School in 1920 and she was a member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church and the former E.U.B. Church and the Win One Class. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women where she held many offices over the years. She is survived by four sisters, Wilda Geary of Florida, Mildred Eicher and her husband, Jesse W., of Connellsville, Louise Holland of Baltimore, Md. and Thelma Gallentine of South Connellsville; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Ralph D. Miller; three brothers, William, Orval G. (Jim) and Robert D. Gallentine; and three sisters, Irene Gallentine, Dorothy Craft and Beulah Erwin. Friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, today from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Elmer Reamer officiating. Interment will follow in Green Ridge Memorial Park, Pennsville.
M. Jane Hepler
M. Jane Hepler, 84, of Mount Pleasant R.D. 2, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2000, in Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 406 E. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant.
Helen Mae Greenawalt
Helen Mae Greenawalt, 84, of Mount Pleasant R.D. 2, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2000, in Uniontown Hospital. She was born Feb. 28, 1915, the daughter of the late Mary Malone. She is survived by two sons, Thomas Greenawalt of Mount Pleasant R.D. 2 and Samuel Greenawalt of Phoenix, Ariz; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. In addition to her mother, she was predeceased by her husband, Thomas J. Greenawalt, in 1985; and a grandson, John Lee Greenawalt. Friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 406 E. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant, on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hour of funeral services in the funeral home with the Rev. Henry Landis officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlick Cemetery, Bullskin Township.
Chelsea "Chuckie" DeLotto
Chelsea "Chuckie" DeLotto, 80, of Spring Hill, Fla., died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000 in Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant. He was born Sept. 16, 1919, in Andover, Mass., a son of the late John and Mary Lichtenberg DeLotto. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Navy. He was employed in the maintenance department of the J.P. Stevens Company in Andover, Mass. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, Ada E. Nutter DeLotto and his second wife, Rita Flanagan DeLotto; three brothers, Frank (Bart), Antonio and Ernest DeLotto; and one sister, Linda Johnston. Mr. DeLotto is survived by the following children: Richard R. Nadeau and his wife, Noreen, of Salem, N.H., Robert C. Stocker of Seaside Park, N.J., Elaine J. Gunderson and her husband, Rodney, of Connellsville and Michael S. Stocker and his wife, Christine, of Laguna Niquel, Calif.; six grandchildren, David A. Nadeau, Carolyn R. Christopher, Robert C. Vennum, Matthew S. Vennum, Lindsay J. Vennum and Jeffrey Stocker; one great-grandson, Damian Vennum; and one brother, Natalie (Nate) DeLotto. There will be no public viewing or visitation. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 29, in St. John the Evangelist RC Church, Connellsville, with the Rev. John Butler as celebrant. Interment will be private. All arrangements are under the direction of the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 E. Green St., Connellsville, Pa.
Margaret P. Abel
Margaret P. Stuck Abel, 80, of Perryopolis, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, at 11 p.m. in Uniontown Hospital. She was born Sept. 8, 1919, in Perryopolis, daughter of the late Nathaniel and Florence McKee Stuck. Margaret was a member of Perryopolis United Methodist Church, member and past president of VFW Goldstar Post 7023 Ladies Auxiliary and the Mon-Valley CB Club. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a son, James David Abel and several brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband, Russell E. Abel; one son, Larry "Doug" Abel and his wife, Barbara, of Perryopolis; two grandsons, Matthew Abel and Greg Abel, both at home; two brothers and two sisters, Dale Stuck and his wife, Louise, of Connellsville, Dean Stuck and his wife, Louise, of Sugar Land, Texas, Mrs. Ina Lynn of Lima, Ohio, and Mrs. Bertha Pappas of Connellsville. Friends will be received in the BLAIR-LOWTHER FUNERAL HOME INC., 106 E. Independence St., Perryopolis, today from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday until 1 p.m., the hour of service with the Rev. Brock R. Beveridge officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Washington Cemetery, Perryopolis.
Elizabeth Pearl Bowers
Elizabeth Pearl Bowers, 74, of Mill Run, went home to be with her Lord, after passing away Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000, in Highlands Hospital. She was born March 25, 1925, in Mill Run, a daughter of the late Amos and Ida Shroyer. She was a Protestant by faith. She was a homemaker all her life. She is survived by six daughters, Dorothy Snyder of Uniontown, Shirley Lake and her husband, John, of Mill Run, Emma, Brenda and Wanda Bowers, all at home, and Roxanne Keefer and her husband, Ernie, of Leisenring; four sons, Marvin Bowers and his wife, Mary, of Uniontown, Fred, Jerry and Mike Bowers, all at home; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one sister, Norma Jean Huffine of Dawson. She was predeceased by her husband, Casey Bowers, in 1976; a son, George Bowers; and four daughters, Nancy, Josephine and Barbara Bowers and Betty Shroyer. At the request of the family, there will be no public visitation. Private viewing will be held for the family only with arrangements under the direction of the VITO C. MARTUCCI FUNERAL HOME, 123 S. First St., West Side, Connellsville. Interment will also be private.
Ann Hegyes
Ann Hegyes, 81, of Layton Hill, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000 at 5:50 p.m. in her home. She was born Feb. 20, 1919 at Linn Station, Brownsville, daughter of the late Michael and Anna Puskar Adams. Ann was a member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Perryopolis. She was an employee of the Perry Auto Auction, working in the kitchen. Survived by her husband, Pete Hegyes; the following children, Peter E. Hegyes and wife, Faye, of Perryopolis, Richard M. Hegyes and wife, Sheryl, of Mount Pleasant, Ms. Thomasine G. Homsher of Layton Hill and Robert J. Hegyes of Layton Hill; seven grandchildren, Mark, Kelli, Dawn, Michael and Scott Hegyes, Patricia Homsher and Danielle Caschera; two great-grandchildren, Aaron and Megan Hegyes; two brothers and one sister, Michael Adams of Eagle River, Alaska, John Richard Adams of Warren, Ohio and Mrs. Thomas (Barbara) Vargo of Fayette City. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters. Friends will be received in the BLAIR-LOWTHER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 106 E. Independence St., Perryopolis, today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. where Panachida services will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m. followed by funeral liturgy at 10 a.m. in St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Perryopolis with the Rev. Father Robert E. Halus celebrant. Interment: St. Nicholas Cemetery, Perryopolis. Parastas services will be held this afternoon at 3 p.m.
Robert C. Bowman
Robert C. Bowman, 74, of Scottdale, passed away Friday morning, March 10, 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) and will be anounced when completed.
Dennis M. Coffman
Dennis M. Coffman, 39, of Indian Head Road, Indian Head, died Thursday, March 9, 2000 in the I.H.S. of Pittsburgh, Greensburg. He was born Jan. 18, 1961 in Pittsburgh, a son of Charles L. and Norma Gales Coffman of Bear Rocks. He was a graduate of Connellsville High School and he was employed as a carpenter having been a member of Union Local 2274. He was a member of the Mon Valley Ski Club and the Cedarbrook Golf League. Dennis was also a member of the Indian Head Church of God. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Jill Russell Coffman; four sons, Christopher, James, Adam and Robert Coffman, all at home; two brothers, Douglas Coffman of Largo, Fla. and Charles David Coffman and his wife, Patty, of Ligonier; three sisters, Kitty Parker
and her husband, Peter, of Glouchester, Va., Sue Ann Rega and her husband, Joseph, of Lake Mary, Fla. and Pamela Glassburn and her husband, David, of Lake Mary, Fla. Friends and family will be received in the CLYDE BROOKS FUNERAL HOME, INC., Route 711, Melcroft, on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Additional visitation will take place on Monday in the Indian Head Church of God from noon until 1 p.m. the hour of funeral services in the church with the Rev. Dennis Arndt officiating. Interment will follow in the Keslar Cemetery.
George Hayden Jr.
George Hayden Jr., 43, of Indiana, Pa., formerly of Tarrs, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, at the Indiana Hospital. He was born Feb. 10, 1957, in Mount Pleasant. George was a graduate of Southmoreland High School with the Class of 1975. He was also a graduate of the Commercial Truckers School of Dallas, Texas, and was a veteran, having served with the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was a member of St. Michael's Orthodox Church of Greensburg. He is survived by his mother, Betty Miller Hayden, of East Windsor, Conn., formerly of Tarrs; and a sister, Donna Gilbert and her husband, William, of Stamford, Conn. He was predeceased by his father, George Hayden Sr., in 1997. Friends will be received in the EUGENE G. SALOOM FUNERAL HOME INC., Main Street, Mount Pleasant, Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at which time his funeral service will be held with the Right Rev. Father John Nosal officiating. Interment will be private.
Madeline E. Copeland
Madeline "Madge" Edna (Shumar) Copeland, 82, of Kingview Road, Scottdale (Upper Tyrone Township), passed away Monday evening, March 6, 2000, in Forbes Regional Medical Center, Monroeville. Family and friends will be received at the ROBERT B. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME, 105, Spring St., Scottdale (724-887-5300) today from noon to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Parting prayers will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home, followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at the Scottdale Church of Christ with Pastor Bob Chambers officiating. Graveside committal services and interment will take place in Mount Pleasant Cemetery next to her late husband.