Grundza , Margaret
Margaret Grundza, 72, of Ambridge, died Friday, March 16, 2001, in her residence. Born Aug. 19, 1928, in Ambridge, a daughter of the late George and Susan Vernak Pastelak, she was a member of the Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church, Ambridge. Surviving are her husband, George Grundza; two daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Bob Hartman, Zelienople, and Donna and Jim Ory, Baden; two grandchildren, Amy Nestor and her husband, Chris, and Scott Hartman, all of Zelienople; a sister, Julia "Bunny" Krachala, Conway, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, George Pastelak, and two sisters, Ann Kovach and Mary Shepherd. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the JOHN SYKA FUNERAL HOME INC., 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge, where a blessing service will be held Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. followed by an additional service at 10 a.m. in the Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church, Ambridge, with the Very Rev. Father William J. Evansky officiating. Interment will follow in Economy Cemetery. Parastas blessing service will be held today at 3:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

Whetzell , Chester A.
Chester A. Whetzell, 84, of New Sewickley Township, died Saturday, March 17, 2001, in his home. Born March 12, 1917, in Smithfield, Pa., a son of the late Chester A. and Rebecca (Sutton) Whetzell, he was a retired employee of the former A.M. Byers Company, Ambridge, and a retired template maker from Coltec Limited. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Ambridge, where he served as a Deacon. He was also a member of the Rolling Acres Country Club and an avid golfer for more than 40 years. Surviving are his wife, Eva (McDaniel) Miller Whetzell; a son, David Whetzell, San Jose, Calif., and a daughter, Rebecca Whetzell, Atlanta, Ga.; James W., and Kathleen Miller, Ross Township, and a grandson, James W. Miller Jr., Ross Township. He was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Whetzell. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 until the time of service at 8 p.m. in the PAUL E. BOHN FUNERAL HOME INC., 1099 Maplewood Ave., Ambridge. The Rev. Doug Lauffer will officiate. Interment will be Wednesday, March 21, at the Smithfield Baptist Cemetery, Smithfield, Pa.

Gahles , Hazel S.
Hazel S. Gahles, 77, of College Hill, died Friday, March 16, 2001, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born June 12, 1923, in Beaver Falls, a daughter of the late Charles and Emma Schoder Schaubhut, she was a member of St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church and Christian Mothers. She had been employed at the Beaver County Courthouse and the Beaver Falls City Building and had been a secretary to Magistrate Milton Richeal. Surviving are her husband, Eugene K. Gahles; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Thomas and Nancy Gahles, North Sewickley Township, and David Gahles, Fort Myers, Fla.; two grandchildren, Susan Gahles, North Sewickley Township, and Ashton Gahles, Fort Myers, Fla.; a brother and sister-in-law, George and Mildred Schaubhut, Beaver Falls; three sisters, Emma Cramer, Beaver Falls; Ruth Marshall, Big Beaver, and Elizabeth Kelbaugh, Fairless Hills, Pa.; a brother-in-law, Paul Kolumban, White Township; two sisters-in-law, Nona Schaubhut and Jennie Schaubhut, both of North Sewickley Township, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Leonard Gahles, in 1973; two brothers, William and Charles "Toddy" Schaubhut, and a sister, Mildred Kolumban. Prayers will be recited today at 9:30 a.m. in the HILL & KUNSELMAN FUNERAL HOME, 3801 Fourth Ave., College Hill, Beaver Falls, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Philomena Church. Her pastor, the Rev. Father David Sharf, will be the Celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Chippewa Township.

Bassar , Joseph
Joseph Bassar, 88, of Ohioville, died Friday afternoon, March 16, 2001, in Sewickley Valley Hospital following a brief illness. Born Dec. 17, 1912, in Pricedale, Pa., a son of the late George and Stella Bobich Bassar, he had been a resident of Ohioville since 1953 and retired in 1978 from the Crucible Stainless and Alloy Division of Colt Industries, Midland, after 49 years in the Blast Furnace Department. He was a member of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Midland, where he sang in the men's choir. He enjoyed golfing and bowling. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Sophie F. (Holava) Bassar; a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald and Regina Bassar, Mission Viejo, Calif., and a daughter and son-in-law, Charmaine and Robert Estermyer Jr., South Beaver Township; two sisters, Sophie Suzich, Duquesne, Pa., and Dorothy Vuyanovich, Baden, and five grandchildren, Christopher Bassar, Fresno, Calif.; Ronald D. Bassar, Prescott, Ariz.; Melissa Bassar, Davis, Calif., and Joel and Elisa Estermyer, South Beaver Township. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Jim, Paul, Nick and Mitch Bassar, and two sisters, Mary Meriage and Mildred Opacic. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the SCHWERHA FUNERAL HOME INC., 600 Beaver Ave., Midland. A funeral service will be conducted Tuesday at 10 a.m. in St. George Serbian Church by his pastor, the Rev. Father Stephan R. Zaremba. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to a favorite charity in his memory. Pomen blessing service will be held today at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

Mukanos , Spyros 'Speedo'
Spyros "Speedo" Mukanos, 75, of Hopewell Township, died Saturday, March 17, 2001, in his home. Born Dec. 30, 1925, in Aliquippa, a son of the late James and Irene (Moskes) Mukanos, he was a retired police officer for the Aliquippa Police Department and was also retired from UPMC-Beaver Valley, where he worked as a security guard. He was a member of the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church and the American Serbian Club, both in Aliquippa, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Mr. Mukanos was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II in the Battle of the Bulge. Surviving are his wife, Nellie (Salaya) Mukanos; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dale and Ana Mukanos, Chino Hills, Calif., and Tim and Lisa Mukanos, Laguna Niguel, Calif.; six grandchildren, Nicholas, Jeffery, Juli, Christopher, Athena and Alexix, and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Gus Mukanos. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the WAYNE N. TATALOVICH FUNERAL HOME, 2205 McMinn St., Aliquippa, where a service will be conducted Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. followed by an additional service at noon in St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, Aliquippa, with the Very Rev. Stevan Stepanov, his pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Aliquippa. The Beaver County Special Unit will conduct full military rites at 12:30 p.m. Pomen (blessing service) will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.

Schondelmeyer , Laura H.
Laura H. Schondelmeyer, 85, of Ohioville, died Thursday, March 15, 2001, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Feb. 19, 1916, in Ohio Township, Pa., a daughter of the late Harlan and Frances Dawson Reed, she was a member of the Fairview Reformed Presbyterian Church. She had retired from the Beaver Valley Geriatric Center, where she was employed in the Laundry Department. In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by her husband, George Schondelmeyer, in 1980, and a son, Robert L. Schondelmeyer, in 2000. Surviving are two sons and three daughters-in-law, George J. and Karen Schondelmeyer, Ohioville; James T. and Barbara Schondelmeyer, Calcutta, Ohio, and Catherine Schondelmeyer, Ohioville; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Harlan Reed, Alliance, Ohio, and James Reed, Calcutta, Ohio, and a sister, Nancy Hanlon, Chester, W.Va. A service will be conducted today at 11 a.m. in the the D.L. WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, 848 Midland Ave., Midland, with her pastor, the Rev. Richard Raines, officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery, Ohioville.

Naim , James W.
James W. Naim, 32, of Hopewell Township, died Thursday, March 15, 2001. Born Nov. 12, 1968, in Sewickley, he was the loving son of Mary Ann Naim and the late Paul J. Naim. Respected and loved by all who knew him, he was an Aliquippa police officer and a graduate of Geneva College. He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Hopewell Township. Surviving him, in addition to his mother, Mary Ann, is his loving wife, Gallina Naim; a sister, Theresa A. Naim and her husband, Angelo Coladonato, New Sewickley Township; a brother, Paul R. Naim, Hopewell Township; a brother, Stephen A. and his wife, Diana L. Naim, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; a brother, Donald G. and his wife, Meghan E. Naim, Billerica, Mass.; six nieces and nephews, Joshua, Bradley, Devin, Shelby, Jourdan and Justin, and a large and loving extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. Friends and relatives will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the DARROCH MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 2640 Mill St., Aliquippa, where a service will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Hopewell Township.

Gadwell , James T.
James T. Gadwell, 80, of Beaver Falls, formerly of Koppel, passed away Saturday, March 17, 2001, while under the compassionate care of the Beaver Valley Geriatric Center, Brighton Township. James was born July 10, 1920, in Ellwood City, to the late James Gadwell and Marie Bruce Gadwell Bassano. After 35 years of service he retired as a Peel Operator from the Hot Mill in the West Mayfield Plant of Babcock & Wilcox. James proudly served his country with the U.S. Army as an Army Ranger during World War II in the South Pacific. James is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Opal Carle Gadwell; a son, James T. Gadwell Jr.. and daughter-in-law, Carolyn, Brighton Township; two daughters, Shirley Sayers, and son-in-law, Richard, Beaver, and Sharon Fabes, Danville, Calif., and four grandchildren, Jennifer, Kelly and Lindsey Gadwell and Andrew Fabes. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Pete, Fred and Gilbert Gadwell; a half-brother, William Bassano, and a sister, Helen Gadwell Michalik. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the LUTTON CHIPPEWA FUNERAL HOME, 117 Blackhawk Road, where a service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. with Terry West, Minister of The Church of Christ, New Brighton, officiating. Interment will follow in the Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, New Galilee. Full military honors will be conducted by the Veterans Honor Guard.