Obituaries by Location
Freda A. Schaum
Freda Ann (Nussbaumer) Schaum, 81, of Masontown, Pa., died Friday, Nov. 30, 2001, with her family at her side.
She was born March 11, 1920, in Raymond, Wash., daughter of the late John and Celia Nussbaumer.
She was the wife of Edward Adam Schaum, who passed away July 20, 2000.
She was a member of All Saints Roman Catholic in Masontown, and she formerly had been employed at Pechins Market in Ronco.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Judith Schaum Kiley; a grandson, Edward D. Schaum; and a brother, John Nussbaumer.
She is survived by her loving family: two sons, Edward Schaum and wife, Renalda, her caregivers of Masontown, and Richard Schaum and wife, Jacklyn of Rices Landing; two daughters, Marilyn Bilpuh and husband, Joseph of Point Marion, and Carole Wheeler and husband, Carl of Masontown; grandchildren, Edward Schaum, Roberta Kess, Christine Bellish, Michael Kiley, Richard Schaum, Terry Schaum, Brian Schaum, Amy Shipp, Kristen Bilpuh and Maureen Kiley; 12 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Arlene Roderick of Smithfield, Loretta Darst and Wanda Stancin, both of Akron, Ohio, and Elsie Kainrad of Diamond, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her little dog, Ginger, whom she enjoyed taking for daily walks.
Friends will be received in the JOHN S. MAYKUTH JR. FUNERAL HOME, corner of Church and River Aves., Masontown, today from 7 to 9 p.m., on Monday form 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and Tuesday until 9:30 a.m., when a prayer service will be held, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m., in All Saints R.C. Church, with the Rev. Fr. James F. Bump as celebrant. Interment will be in Masontown Cemetery.
James H. Shugarts
James H. Shugarts, 81, formerly of Luthersburg and Connellsville, died Sunday, Nov. 25, at Laurel Nursing Home, Hamburg, Pa.
He is survived by one son, James H. Shugarts Jr. of Youngwood; one daughter, Glenna Heck of Hamburg; five grandchildren; one step-grandson and one sister, Anna G. Rueby of Tucson, Ariz.
Arrangements were under the direction of Goble-Baronick Funeral Home Inc., DuBois.
Thomas A. Sikora
Thomas Anthony Sikora, 60, of Uniontown, Pa., died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, November 28, 2001, in his home.
Born January 27, 1941, in Uniontown, Pa., he was the son of the late John J. Sikora Sr. and Mary Zawelensky Sikora.
Tom was a member of St. Therese de Lisieux Roman Catholic Church where he was an Usher for the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.
He graduated from the former St. John High School, Uniontown, and St. Francis College in Loretto, Pa., and received his Masters of Psychology Degree from California University of Pennsylvania.
His dedicated career in education began at Greensburg Central Catholic High School, Greensburg, Pa., followed by an assignment at Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville, Pa.
On September 5, 1972, he joined the staff of Uniontown Area School District as a Special Education teacher, first at A. J. McMullen Junior High School, Markleysburg, (1972-1973), with subsequent assignments at Ben Franklin (1973-1976), and LaFay-ette and Haddenville schools in Uniontown (1976-1981).
Tom has been the School Psychologist for the Uniontown Area School District since August, 1981, and was a member of the American Association of School Psychologists and also the Pennsylvania School Employees Association.
He was currently serving as President of the Board of Directors of Chestnut Ridge Counseling, Uniontown.
For the past 17 years he has been Treasurer of The Heritage Hills Association.
His most beloved son, Thomas Matthew Sikora, died July 26, 1998.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Carolyn Mikula Sikora; his mother-in-law, Helen Mikula of Uniontown; a sister, Carol Barber and her children, State Trooper Jeffrey D. Barber, Damon G. Barber (Tom’s Godson), Dr. Greg D. Barber, Diane E. Barber, G. Douglas Barber, Denise Farris Barber, J. Scott Barber, Zachery J. Barber, and Anna Lee Anderson Barber; two brothers: John Sikora and Richard Sikora both of Uniontown; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Mary Mikula Strcula and her husband, Andrew Strcula, Matthew Mikula and his wife, Marie, James Mikula, Thomas Mikula and his wife, Jeanne, Attorney Jacqueline Mikula Verney and her husband, Dr. Tom Verney, and Janice DeVito Sikora; nephews and nieces: Dr. Jason Strcula, Michael Mikula and Amy Mikula, Brian Mikula and Kelly Mikula and Eric Mikula, Danielle Verney and Ben Verney.
Friends were received in the STEPHEN E. KEZMARSKY III FUNERAL HOME AT 71 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, UNIONTOWN, Pa., on Friday, November 30, 2001 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday, December 1, 2001 until 9 a.m., when a Blessing Service was held.
A Mass of Christian Burial followed at 9:30 a.m. in St. Therese de Lisieux Roman Catholic Church, 61 Mill Street, Uniontown, with the Rev. Fr. Terry Hercik as Celebrant.
Interment followed in Mount Macrina Cemetery.
Katherine G. Tapper
Katherine Grace Porterfield Eicher Tapper, 87, of Uniontown, Pa., died Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001, at her residence.
She was born in Connellsville, Pa., on April 24, 1914, the daughter of the late George and Elsie (Wingrove) Porterfield.
A homemaker, Mrs. Tapper was a member of the Smithton Church of the Nazarene.
She is survived by five sons, George R. Eicher of Painesville, Ohio, William F. Eicher of Sharon, Richard D. Eicher of Jefferson, Ohio, James A. Eicher of Sharon, and Gary L. Eicher of Wartburg, Tenn.; three daughters, Jacqueline R. Hartley of Belle Vernon, Charmaine J. Hall of Brownsville, and Diana M. Rife of Uniontown; two stepdaughters, Jean and Rebecca; two brothers, William F. Porterfield of Republic, and George A. Porterfield of California; a sister, Priscilla Twerdesky of Franklin, Ohio; 38 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; and ten great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, Robert Eicher and Louis Tapper; two daughters, Anna Grace Swegal and Elsie Greathouse; six brothers, Daniel, Sam, Woodrow, James, Arthur and Charles Porterfield; and a sister, Hazel Zediger.
Friends will be received on the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC., 580 Circle Dr., Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township, today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Monday until 10:15 a.m. Family and friends will proceed to the Smithton Church Of The Nazarene for a Funeral Service on Monday at 11 a.m., with Mrs. Tapper’s son, the Rev. Gary L. Eicher officiating. Interment will follow in Olive Branch Cemetery, Rostraver Township. Visitation was also held on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 9 p.m.
James Toth
James "Jim" Toth of Lansdowne, Pa., formerly of Denbo Heights, and a graduate of Bethlehem Center High School, died Nov. 20, 2001.
He was the beloved husband of the late Helen Marie (Tisdale) Toth; beloved father of Jamie Toth, Kevin Toth Esquire, Nicholas Toth and Jess Toth; loving son of Ann (Babko) Hausher; brother of Bonnie Barnish, Michael Toth, Nancy Iovino, Alanna Sharratt and Dominic Hausher.
Funeral Services were held on Friday, Nov. 23, 2001, at 2 p.m., in the O’Leary Funeral Home, 640 East Springfield Road, Springfield, Pa. Interment was private. In his memory, the family would appreciate contributions to the United Way of Southeast Pennsylvania, 7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103.
Lucy Tuckish
Lucy "Toots" Tuckish, 98, of Mather, Pa., died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2001, in Greene County Memorial Hospital, Waynesburg.
Mrs. Tuckish was a homemaker.
She is survived by five sisters, Julia Coles of Mather, Evelyn Maurin of Rices Landing, Alice Zavora of Carmichaels, Ruth Zavora of Uniontown, and Dolores Hughes of Keystone, W.Va.; three brothers, Charles Varesko of Carmichaels, William Varesko of Mather, and Robert Varesko of Carmichaels; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the Behm Funeral Home Inc., 1477 Jefferson Rd., Jefferson, on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., where services will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001, at 11 a.m.
Anna P. Beercheck
Anna Pustay Beercheck, 99, of Perryopolis, Pa., died Friday, May 25, 2001, at 7 a.m. in The Parish House, Perryopolis.
She was born November 29, 1901, in Juniata, Pa., daughter of the late August Pustay and Mary Molnar Pustay.
Anna was a member of St. John The Baptist Roman Catholic Church and The Sokol Club both in Perryopolis.
She is survived two daughters: Mrs. Dorothy Mikula of Monessen, Pa., and Mrs. Martha Baluch of Perryopolis, Pa.; seven grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.
Friends will be received in the BLAIR-LOWTHER FUNERAL HOME INC., 106 East Independence Street, Perryopolis, Pa., on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. where a Prayer Service will be held Tuesday, May 29, at 9:30 a.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial follows at 10 a.m. in St. John The Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Perryopolis, with Rev. Fr. John T. Euker as Celebrant.
Interment will follow in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Perryopolis.
Wake Service will be held Monday evening at 8 p.m.
Barbara Best Bonner
Barbara Ann Best Bonner, 46, of Macon, Georgia, graduate of Hempfield High School and Seton Hill College Class of 1976, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2001, at her home.
She is survived by her father, Robert E. Best Jr. of Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pa.; her husband of 20 years, C. R. Bonner Jr.; sons: C. R. Bonner III "Land" and Robert Andrew Bonner "Drew"; her brother, Robert E. Best III, and her sister, Rebecca Ann Best.
A Private Memorial Service was held Wednesday, May 23, in Macon.
Ruth Dinsmore Burke
Ruth Dinsmore Burke, 85, of Hopwood, Pa., passed away Friday, May 25, 2001, in Laurel Ridge Center, Uniontown.
She was born August 9, 1915, in Lemont Furnace, Pa., daughter of John C. Dinsmore and Mamie Alice Taylor Dinsmore.
Ruth was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Uniontown.
She was an avid golfer and bowler.
Her husband, William C. Burke, died in February 1996. Also deceased are a brother, Robert Dinsmore, a sister, Faye Stump, and her parents.
Surviving are her daughter, Carole L. Grey and husband, Jim Grey, of Dover, Delaware; two grandchildren: Scott Burke of Odenton, Maryland, and Robyn Grey of Richmond, Virginia; one sister, Norma Jean Lavery of Morgantown, West Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the DONALD R. CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, Hopwood, Pa., on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Visitation continues Wednesday, May 30, in Calvary United Methodist Church, Clark Street, Uniontown, from 11 a.m. until 12 Noon. Services will then be held with the Rev. Thomas Whitehead, her Pastor, officiating.
Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery.
Anthony R. Damasky
Anthony R. "Tony" Damasky, 59, formerly of North Huntingdon, who was born in McKeesport, Pa., a former Policeman for North Huntingdon Township and former owner/operator of Damasky Auto Body in North Huntingdon, died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, in UPMC Passavant, McCandless, Pittsburgh, Pa.
He is survived by two daughters: Cheryl Damasky and Lauren Damasky both of North Versailles, Pa.; sisters: Connie Damasky Tarr of Glassport, Pa., and Debbie Damasky Jordan of Harrison City, Pa.; a brother, Larry Damasky of McKeesport; nieces and nephews.
Friends were received at the William Snyder Funeral Home, 521 Main Street, Irwin, Pa., on Saturday, May 26, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., when a Blessing Service was held and interment followed.
