Glassport Obituaries as Reported in the Daily News
As of January 14, 2000, Obituaries were published in the Daily News On-Line. Those obituaries, which reference present or former Glassporters are reproduced here in full.
JOHN BURGMAN
John H. (Jack) Burgman, 74, of Glassport died yesterday in Jeannette District Memorial Hospital. A retried scarfer for the Irvin plant, U.S. Steel Corp., he was a member of Queen of the Rosary Parish in Glassport and Gen. Smedley D. Butler American Legion Post 701 in White Oak, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II serving with the Third Infantry Division in the European Theatre of Operations and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Born in Duquesne, Feb. 21, 1926, he was the son of the late William and Elizabeth Hart Burgman. He is survived by his wife, Arlene George Burgman; children, Lori McGough and Kip Burgman of Glassport; stepson, James Humanic of Glassport; eight grandchildren; sisters, Edith Moeller of North Huntingdon Twp., Mary Withers of Hammitt, Idaho, and Patricia Barinaga of Grandview, Idaho; and brothers, George and Darryl Burgman of Glassport, Robert Burgman of Versailles, Emanuel Burgman of North Huntingdon Twp. and Thomas Burgman of Irwin. Another brother, William Burgman, died in November of 1999.
Friends will be received tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Edmund E. Wojciechowski Jr. Funeral Home, Glassport. Service will begin there Friday at 8:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 9 in Queen of the Rosary Church. Interment will be in New St. Joseph Cemetery, North Versailles Twp.
JOHN MEHALCIK
John L. (Sauers) Mehalcik, 77, of Glassport died yesterday in University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh. A retired foreman for District 4 Allegheny County Works Department on Lovedale Hollow Road, he was a member of Queen of the Rosary Parish in Glassport and a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Born Dec. 11, 1922, in Glassport, he was the son of the late John J. and Ann Kociban Mehalcik. He is survived by his wife, Frances Derewonko Mehalcik; daughters, Michele Balogh and Mary Mattis of Elizabeth, Stephanie of Pittsburgh and Suzanne Mondak of Warren Center; sons, John and Mark Mehalcik of Glassport; 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; brother, George Mehalcik of Las Vegas, Nev.; nieces and nephews.
No visitation or services were scheduled. Arrangements were in charge of the Edmund E. Wojciechowski Jr. Funeral Home, Glassport.
ALBERT FAZEKAS
Private services were conducted for a former Versailles resident, Albert Charles Fazekas of Glassport who died Thursday in UPMC McKeesport. Entombment was in Lebanon Chapel Mausoleum, West Mifflin. Arrangements were in charge of the Daniel F. Bekavac Funeral Home, Versailles.
Son of the late Charles and Mary Boldiczar Fazekas, he is survived by his wife, Joanna Pacewicz Fazekas; children, A. Daniel Fazekas, Richard A. Fazekas, Nancy Kendall, Lisa Marghella, Michele Fazekas and Karen Fazekas; grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother, Joseph Fazekas; and sisters, Elsie Sloan and Rose Reitz.
HARRY WILKOP
Harry Wilkop, 89, of Elizabeth Twp. died yesterday in Mount Vernon of South Park. A retired welder from Marine Ways in Elizabeth, he was a member of Round Hill Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth Twp. and a former member of the Slovenian Club of Herminie.
Born Jan. 3, 1911, in Glassport, he was a son of the late Wilhelm and Karolina Wilkop. He is survived by his wife, Alvena Hitchens Wilkop; daughter, Joy L. Jenkins of Pleasant Hills; three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home, Elizabeth. Service will be offered in the chapel there Saturday at 11:30 a.m. by the Rev. Lowell Meek. Interment will be in Round Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth Twp. The family has suggested memorial contributions to the Round Hill Presbyterian Church.
ROSE GATTONE
A former resident of Glassport and Wilmerding, Rose M. Balena Gattone, 91, of West Mifflin died yesterday in the Southwestern Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Pleasant Hills.
Born Oct. 29, 1908, in Wilmerding, she was the daughter of the late Joseph N. and Govinella Mercurio Balena and the wife of the late Joseph N. Gattone. She is survived by daughters, Jean V. Kaspary of Baldwin, Gen Evanoski of Homestead and Rose M. Ross of Berlin, Md.; six grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Friends will be received in the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Pleasant Hills, tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. until the hour of service there at 12:30 p.m. with the Daniel Valentine officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills. The family has suggested memorial contributions to the Holy Spirit Church, 2603 Old Elizabeth Road, West Mifflin, PA, 15122.
JULIANNA MURIN
Julianna T. Murin, 76, of Glassport died yesterday in UPMC McKeesport. She was a member of Queen of the Rosary Parish in Glassport.
Born in Braddock, Jan. 4, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Joanna Waciega Maluty and the wife of the late Michael Murin. She is survived by son, Michael (Sonny) Murin of Glassport; daughter, Julianna Murin of Glassport; five grandchildren; sisters, Victoria Radzyniak, Frances Marshall and Dorothy Maluty, all in Florida; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Edmund E. Wojciechowski Jr. Funeral Home, Glassport. Service will begin there Thursday at 9:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 in Queen of the Rosary Parish. Interment will be in Braddock Catholic Cemetery.
EDITH MAIER
Edith Robinson Maier, 85, of the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh died Monday in Providence, R.I. She was a member of the Sixth Presbyterian Church in Squirrel Hill.
Born in Glassport, Nov. 27, 1914, she was the daughter of the late John and Minnie Jones Robinson and the wife of the late Sidney Maier. She is survived by children, Marilyn C. Maier and Lois M. Amper; two grandchildren; sisters, Vivian Voelker and Lois Adams; and brother, J. Kent Milton.
Friends will be received in McCabe and Bros., Inc., Shadyside, Friday from 11 a.m. until the hour of service there at noon.
HILDA BYARD
Hilda M. Yates Byard, 85, of Clairton, formerly of Glassport, died yesterday at home. A former crossing guard for the Clairton School District, she was a member of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Clairton.
Born in Clairton, July 29, 1914, she was a daughter of the late James and Mae Smith Yates and the wife of the late Jack E. Byard. She is survived by children, Fredericka Toth of Clairton, H. Jonathan Byard of Fayetteville, N.C., and David F. Byard of Pitts Grove, N.J.; 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; brother and sisters, Alfred Yates of Antioch, Tenn., Marjorie Johnson and Doris Myford of Clairton, Regina Waite of Fort Myers, Fla., and Kathleen Fazzoni of Pleasant Hills.
Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Pleasant Hills. A blessing will be offered there Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills.
BRONISLAUS SPYRA
Bronislaus J. (Brownie) Spyra, 72, of Elizabeth Twp. died Friday in St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh. A retired craneman for Bucyrus-Erie, he was a member of St. Mary Czestochowa Church and the Fiddler’s Organization and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Born Sept. 22, 1927, in Glassport, he was the son of the late Joseph and Stephania Kuzmicha Spyra. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn E. Toth Szygenda Spyra; daughters, Darlene E. Spyra of Toledo, Ohio, Susan M. Mouri of Washington, Pa., and Carolyn Pershing of Elizabeth Twp.; sons, Dennis J. Spyra of Pittsburgh, Bernard L. Spyra of Lincoln and Ronald C. Spyra of Washington, Pa.; 11 grandchildren; sister, Stella Belcher of Pittsburgh; nieces and nephews.
No visitation is scheduled. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Czestochowa Church by the Rev. F.B. Lachowicz. Arrangements are in charge of the Drew J. Gilbert Funeral Home, Inc., Boston, Elizabeth Twp.
COSMO YOCCO
Cosmo P. (Red) Yocco, 79, of Clairton died yesterday in Jefferson Hospital. A retired welder from Bucyrus-Erie in Glassport, he was a member and usher of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Clairton, U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a trumpeter in the Air Force Band.
Born in Glassport, Dec. 25, 1920, he was the son of the late Patsy and Antoinette Thomas Yocco and the husband of the late Mary Moretti Yocco. He is survived by a daughter, Annette Pearson of Jefferson Hills; sons, Paul and Richard Yocco of Jefferson Hills; seven grandchildren and a great grandson; sister, Helen Schneltzer of Glassport; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the A.J. Bekavac Funeral Home, Clairton, today from 7 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Paulinus Church. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills.
GORDON LONG
Memorial Service will be offered tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Bryn Mawr Church of Christ in White Oak for Gordon Lynn Long, 56, of Glassport who died Sunday at home.
Born April 14, 1944, in McKeesport, he is survived by a daughter, Lauren Lynn Long of North Versailles Twp.
LEE NEAL
Lee R. (Smoky) Neal, 60, of Belford, N.J., formerly of Glassport, died Saturday at home. A master carpenter with Gryphon Development Co., Summit, N.J., he was a U.S. Navy veteran and served two Army tours.
Born in McKeesport, Feb. 27, 1940, he was a son of the late Stanley L. and Lois A. Beeler Neal. He is survived by Patricia O’Malley with whom he resided; son, Michael L. Neal of Irwin; daughters, Debbie DePill-Neal of North Irwin, Diane Mitlo of North Huntingdon Twp., Donna Becker in Florida, Lorrie Bowman of Scotch Plains, N.J., Nancy Giordano of Leland, N.C., and Tricia Frank of Union, N.J.; 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; sisters, Karen March, Kathy Wray and Terri Woytovich of Glassport; nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were in charge of the Scott and Kedz Home for Funerals in Belford.
AGNES RUSHNOCK
Agnes M. Rushnock, 79, of Liberty died yesterday in UPMC McKeesport. She was a member of St. Mark Parish and the Woodmen of the World.
Born in Glassport, Feb. 21, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Mary Pastor Andrews. She is survived by her husband, Andrew M. Rushnock; sons, Andrew M. Rushnock Jr. of Port Vue and David L. Rushnock of Greenock; daughter, Marian J. Novak of Elizabeth; six grandchildren; sister, Grace Leshnock of White Oak; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p m. in the Edmund E. Wojciechowski Jr. Funeral Home, Glassport. Service will begin there Monday at 9:30 a .m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 in the Liberty worship site with the Rev. Gerald Mikonis as celebrant. Entombment will be in the mausoleum of Penn-Lincoln Memorial Park, North Huntingdon Twp.
VERA BEST
Vera M. Kennedy Halpert Best, 86, of Glassport died Saturday in Jefferson Hospital. Born in Versailles, Nov. 8, 1913, she was the daughter of the late William and Inez Simeral Kennedy.
She is survived by her husband, Edwin Best; daughters, Joy Miller of Elizabeth and Judy Lydon of Fort Washington, Md.; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren; sister, Ethel Lippzer of McKeesport; nieces and nephews.
Friends are being received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Willig Funeral Home. Service will be conducted there tomorrow at 10 am. Interment will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Elizabeth Twp.
JOSEPHINE WATKINS
Josephine Watkins, 80, of Glassport died yesterday in UPMC McKeesport. She was a member of Queen of the Rosary Parish in Glassport.
Born July 4, 1919, in Glassport, she was a daughter of the late John and Maria Szumlanski Babral and the wife of the late Charles O. Watkins. She is survived by daughters, Susan Szymanski of North Huntingdon Twp., Patricia Piechowicz of Acme and Ellen Lobingier of Trent; six grandchildren; brother, Anthony Babral of Glassport; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Edmund E. Woj-ciechowski Jr. Funeral Home, Glassport. Funeral will begin there Friday at 9:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 in Queen of the Rosary Church. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills.
ENES SGROI
Enes Sgroi, 86, of Glassport, died Tuesday in St. Claire’s Hospital in Denville, N.J. Owner and supervisor of the Colonial Restaurant in Glassport for 40 years, she was a member of Gospel of Jesus Christ Church in Duquesne.
Born in Aquila, Italy, Feb. 2, 1914, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Elisa D’Adario Carlei and the wife of the late Consolato (Lou) Sgroi. She is survived by daughters, Lois Thorpe of Glassport and Joy Turek of Liberty; son, Anthony Sgroi of Rockaway, N.J.; eight grandchildren; sisters, Marie Grice and Gloria Oslowski of Glassport, Eros Columbo of Fossa, Italy, and Louise Cunningham in Florida; brothers, Arthur Carley of Renton and Joseph Carley in Tennessee; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Edmund E. Wojciechowski Jr. Funeral Home, Glassport. Service will be offered there Saturday at 10:30 a.m. by the Rev. Rocco Tassone. Entombment will be in the mausoleum at Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills.
EDWIN BEST
Edwin Best, 87, of Glassport, died yesterday in Southwestern Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Pleasant Hills. A construction worker, he was a former member of American Legion Post 443 in Glassport.
Born April 17, 1913, in Irwin, he was a son of the late Lula Jones and the husband of the Vera Best who died June 24, 2000. He is survived by stepdaughters, Joy Miller of Elizabeth and Judy Lydon of Fort Washington, Md.; three step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren. .
Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Elizabeth Twp. Arrangements are in charge of the Willig Funeral Home.
JOSEPH DiLUCENTE
Joseph (Peppino) DiLucente, 70, of Glassport died yesterday at home. A stone mason, he was self-employed and also worked at Cost Corp. Construction and was a member of Queen of the Rosary Parish in Glassport.
Born in Santangelo, Italy, June 3, 1930, he was a son of the late Nicola and Linda DiSala DiLucente. He is survived by his wife, Carmela DiNinno DiLucente; son, Nicholas J. DiLucente of West Mifflin; daughters, Linda M. DiLucente of Glassport and Patty A. DiLucente Shaw of Murrysville; four grandchildren; brother, Fiore DiLucente of Rome, Italy; and sisters, Maria Melocchi and Nicoletta Contestabile of North Versailles Twp.
Friends will be received in the E.C. Finney Funeral Home, Inc., Glassport, tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at noon in Queen of the Rosary Church by the Rev. Casimir Kedzierski. Interment will be in Penn-Lincoln Memorial Park, North Huntingdon Twp. The family has suggested memorial contributions to the Research Department of the American Cancer Society.
MARYANN ZAVALYDRIGA
MaryAnn K. Limberger Zavalydriga, 64, of North Huntingdon Twp. died Monday in Jeannette District Memorial Hospital. She was a member St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in North Huntingdon Twp.
Born Sept. 4, 1935, in Glassport, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Anna Levkus Limberger and the wife of the late John W. Zavalydriga. She is survived by daughters, Susan Zebrak of North Huntingdon Twp., Jacqueline Naser of Greensburg and Debora Mitchell of Manor; six grandchildren; and brothers, Robert Limberger of Fairfax, Va., and Thomas Limberger of Streamwood, Ill.
Friends are being received in the Joseph F. Ott Funeral Home, Inc., Irwin, today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated tomorrow at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Interment will follow in Penn-Lincoln Memorial Park, North Huntingdon Twp.
GARY MILLER
Gary Ernest Miller, 63, of 116 Frontier Drive, Jefferson Hills, died yesterday in Jefferson Hospital. A carpenter for the Carpenters Union in McKeesport, he was a member of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Clairton and a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Born in Jefferson, Jan. 1, 1937, he was the son of Ellen Brannican Miller of Glassport and the late Ernest E. Miller. He is survived by his mother; wife, Mary Lou Williams Miller; son, Jason J. Miller of State College; daughter, Jennifer J. Miller-Smith of San Francisco, Calif.; and brother, Robert A. Miller of Glassport.
Friends will be received in the S.M. Finney Funeral Home, Inc., Clairton, tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Paulinus Church by the Rev. James Kurtz. Interment will be in St. Clare Cemetery, Clairton. The family has suggested memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society.
Daily News July 10, 2000
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Paulinus Church of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Clairton for Gary Ernest Miller of Jefferson Hills who died Thursday. Friends will be received in the S.M. Finney Funeral Home, Inc., Clairton, today from 7 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. He was the son of Ellen Brannigan Miller of Glassport and the late Ernest E. Miller.
FLORENCE McCLELLAN
A former Glassport resident, Florence McClellan, 67, of Altoona died there yesterday in Holy Family Hospital. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Glassport.
Born in Altoona, May 3, 1933, she was the daughter of the late William and Anna Brightbill Dickinson and the wife of the late Robert E. McClellan Sr. She is survived by sons, Robert McClellan Jr. of McKeesport and Scott McClellan in Mississippi; five grandchildren and a great grandchild; sisters, Kate Mefford of Chicago, Ill., Edna Feathers of Claysburg, Dot and Ruth Brantner, Mary Strunk, Rose Miller, Shirley Cheslocke, Sandra Stewart and Theresa Snowberger, all of Altoona; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the Edmund E. Wojciechowski Jr. Funeral Home, Glassport, tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. until the hour of service there at noon with Pastor Philip S. Ramstad officiating. Interment will be in Round Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth Twp.
RUTH GENTILE
A former Glassport resident, Ruth I. Gentile, 76, of Bellevue, Ohio, died Friday in Seneca County. Retired in 1975 as a floral arranger for Johnston the Florist in McKeesport, she was a member of Glassport United Methodist Church.
Born Jan. 15, 1924, in West Elizabeth, she was the daughter of the late Charles Franklin and Edith Jane Ralph Doyle and the wife of the late Olimpio Gentile. She is survived by a daughter, Cassandra Gotham of Bellevue; and three grandchildren.
Service will be conducted tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Pleasant Hills, by the Rev. Craig Forsythe. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills.
MARIE RIEMENSCHNEIDER
A former McKeesport resident, Marie A. Roulan Riemenschneider, 75, of Fairless Hills died Saturday in Temple Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Twp. A 1942 graduate of McKeesport High School, she was employed as a cook at the former Rocky’s Restaurant in Fairless Hills for eight years and was a founding member of St. Francis Cabrini Parish, Fairless Hills.
Born in Glassport, she was the daughter of the late George and Sue Schwerha Roulan. She is survived by her husband, David A. Riemenschneider; children, David A. Riemenschneider in South Carolina, George Riemenschneider of Zephyrhills, Fla., Joe and Charles Riemenschneider of Fairless Hills and Jim Riemenschneider of Pittsburgh; 18 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., Levittown, today from 7 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 8 to 9 a.m. Mass of Christian will be celebrated tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in St. Frances Cabrini Church. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. The family has suggested memorial contributions to the St. Frances Cabrini Church, 325 South Oxford Valley Road, Fairless Hills, 19030.
Page last updated July 16, 2000