Obituary Stories category, Page 35
Ligonier man devoted to family and faith
For James E. McCracken of Ligonier, it was truly love at first sight when he saw Hazel Braden at a playground and knew that, one day, he was going to marry that girl. It did not matter that James was only 11 years old and the pretty girl was only...
Broken leg ruse in Connellsville emergency room began 52-year relationship
Robert Broderick has no regrets over a ruse more than 50 years ago he and a Connellsville State General Hospital nurse pulled off in the hospital’s emergency room that introduced him to his future wife and “a lifetime of loving memories.” In 1968, Broderick was a cub reporter at The...
Mt. Pleasant area man cared for foster children
Richard Frena loved children so much so that he and his former wife, Dorothy Marie, were foster parents to 41 over many years. “He wanted to help them out,” said his sister, Elizabeth Mizikar of Mammoth, Mt. Pleasant Township. “They would take in the children and care for them.” Richard...
North Huntingdon man remembered for love of history
When Irwin prepared to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2014, Jerry Kyslinger was there with his pen, ready to capture the memories. Helping to write “Irwin Then & Now,” the North Huntingdon resident traveled to various nursing homes, scanning pictures provided by residents to show before and after shots of...
East Huntingdon beautician loved faith, friends, family
Dorothy Johnson was always able to brighten someone’s day, whether it was with a bouquet, a great meal or a new hairdo. “Her cup was not just half full; her cup was overflowing,” said her daughter, Donna Britt. Mrs. Johnson ran Dorothy’s Beauty Shop out of her East Huntingdon home...
Mt. Pleasant Twp. man set foot on every continent but Antarctica
James Hall has set foot on every continent except Antarctica. “He went on at least three mission trips to Africa, another trip to Morocco, all over the place,” said his daughter C. Carol Oravetz of Ligonier. “He loved to travel and he loved to eat. I traveled the U.S. and...
North Huntingdon woman was avid golfer, beloved teacher
Carol Weiss was at a restaurant when she overheard a man bragging about having shot a hole-in-one at the golf course that day. Her name was Carol Lenhart then, and an avid golfer herself, she struck up a conversation. The man was David Weiss, and it was his lucky day...
‘Disposition of joy’ hallmark of woman’s life
In 1915, when Mabel Glunt Keibler was born, Woodrow Wilson was president, the United States had not yet entered the war in Europe, Babe Ruth hit his first career home run and women were still fighting for the right to vote. Mrs. Keibler lived a quiet life in a century...
Plum’s Frank Furko, best remembered as Pudgie Wudgie’s owner, dead at 85
Frank J. Furko’s claim to national fame was being the owner of a 20-pound tabby cat named Pudgie Wudgie — a famed feline in the 1990s. But Furko was more than that to people who knew him in the Oakmont and Plum areas. Furko of Plum’s East Oakmont neighborhood died...
Acme man’s family helped found the annual Appalachian Wagon Train
Chart Howard lived for the annual Appalachian Wagon Train, when residents jump back in time and participate in a horse-drawn wagon train through Westmoreland and Fayette counties, traveling during the day and camping at night. So it was with a heavy heart that wagon-train participants set out in 2019, the...
Ed Saliba Sr. remembered as icon of New Kensington firefighting
“Chief 56” has acknowledged his last call. An icon of New Kensington firefighting, J. Edward Saliba Sr. died Wednesday afternoon. “He was 89 and a half,” said his son Edward Saliba Jr., who followed his father’s footsteps and now is the city’s fire chief. “It’s a sad day for New...
Murrysville photographer never stopped capturing moments
David Adams loved photography, so much so that even after his job at local newspapers came to an end, he continued to work in the field. “He just took prom pictures last month at Spectrum Charter School in Monroeville,” his wife Bonnijean said. “He just liked the interaction. He was...
Greensburg woman shared love of outdoors, ice skating
Grace Howard was outgoing, loved people and enjoyed the finer things in life. On the latter count, she married the right man, according to her daughter. “She graduated from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing and was a registered nurse, but she never needed to do any nursing work,” said Sharon...
Unity man ‘was always telling a story or a joke’
James Miller never met someone with whom he couldn’t strike up a conversation. “He was a talker,” said his son, Bruce Miller of Mt. Pleasant. “Whenever he was in the room, you might get to throw in a word here and there, but he was always telling a story or...
Army veteran, former pilot had lifelong love of aviation
Charles Steel followed his heart into the clouds but kept his feet firmly planted on the ground. Likely influenced by cousin Chalmers Goodlin, a renowned test pilot from New Alexandria, Mr. Steel obtained his pilot’s license in 1945, at 18. “Chalmers bought a DC-10, and my dad flew it from...
Unity woman had ‘heart of a caring person’
Anna Dunn made it her life’s work to care for the Benedictine brothers at Saint Vincent Archabbey. She spent 40 years as a certified nurse’s aide at the monastery infirmary, caring for brothers and priests who were convalescing or were in their last hours, said her daughter Kathleen Hendrickson. “She...
Monroeville man was ‘the most sincere police officer you’d ever meet’
During his lengthy career in law enforcement, T. Craig Thompson was nothing if not resourceful, even if the resource he used was nonexistent. “One night he was on patrol down by Airgas on Route 22, maybe about three in the morning, and he saw a flash in his peripheral vision,”...
Rillton woman turned passion for cooking, baking into profession
Alice Ogg loved to cook, bake and make candy — so much so she turned her passion into a profession. She operated her candy and catering business, Alice’s Candy, from her Rillton home in the 1970s and 80s. “She made the candy during the holidays — Christmas and Easter. She...
Longtime Mt. Pleasant teacher had ‘soothing Italian way’
As a young woman, Clarina DiPietro had two goals in life – to attend Seton Hill University and to work for the CIA. Although she accomplished both, she spent most of her career as a social studies teacher at Mt. Pleasant Area Senior High School. “She was always teaching her...
Latrobe businessman remembered for generosity, love of family
James Barchesky, also known as Big Jim, was very proud of the corner lot where his dealership, Superior Motors of Latrobe, sits. And he made it known, taking rides by it on Sunday drives so he knew what was going on. “That was his corner,” said grandson Tomas Barchesky, who...
Hempfield woman never forgot birthdays, anniversaries
Mary Alice Weir never forgot a birthday or anniversary of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “She always sent out cards. She even had the cards in her drawer at Westmoreland Manor, and she got them out in the mail,” said her daughter-in-law, Michelle Weir of Hempfield. She remembered so many...
Derry man remembered for love of family, time in service
On the night James Hook and his soon-to-be wife, Sarah, started dating, they didn’t know it would lead to 80 years of him walking her home. “He asked if he could walk her home, and he asked if he could take her hand, and he’s been walking her home ever...
Level Green dietitian shared Italian culinary traditions
Food was a passion and a profession for Lisa Ginsburg. A registered dietitian, she made sure those she cared for — including family members — were well fed and hydrated. “When I was in college, I played baseball for Clarion University, and she helped me with my nutrition,” her younger...
Greensburg man saw life despite blindness
John Dallo was blind from childhood, but he didn’t let that handicap bring him down. “He was an inspiration to everybody who saw him,” said his wife, Carol Dallo. “He did not just let life go by. He would be right in there helping with whatever.” Mr. Dallo became blind...
Jeannette teacher Raymond Bronzie wrestled most out of life on and off the mat
In his long life, there was very little that Raymond Bronzie couldn’t or didn’t do. He helped train the chimpanzees in the Johnny Weissmuller “Tarzan” movies. He was a finalist for the Olympic swimming and wrestling teams. He was a Golden Glove boxer. He rode a bicycle cross-country. He was...
