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Obituary Stories category, Page 26

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Former Jeannette man loved family, city history
Edward Slonecki would often joke that he was “the man,” but that’s exactly what he was to his sons. “We never really had a need for anything because my father and my mother were both there to love us and support us,” Chad Slonecki said. “If he wasn’t there to...
Murrysville woman followed her calling to help others
Becky Snyder had a heart for ministry that was matched only by her boundless energy. She helped found His Hand Extended Ministry (His HEM) and its companion thrift store in Washington Township. She ran the thrift store for 12 years as a way to fund the ministry, her husband, William...
West Newton woman loved arts, crafts and the ocean
Shirley Cantini couldn’t dip her toes in the ocean often enough. “She just loved the beach,” said her daughter, Cindy Achtzehn of Madison. “We went to Myrtle Beach every year when I was younger. And we had a camping group that was my family, my brother-in-law and some good friends....
Herminie woman loved to nurture others
Nothing made Sara Heckman happier than taking care of someone else. First, it was her husband, John. Their children tell how the two married young — she as 16, he was 19. Then, there were her five children. Finally, there were her 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren and the...
Former North Huntingdon Marine ‘happiest when his pockets were empty’
Don Kattic loved his fellow veterans so much that, whenever he presented an American flag to a veteran’s widow, he made sure to include taps. “He didn’t know how to play a musical instrument, so he would have a pretend trumpet and play taps on an old tape recorder,” said...
Trafford man always put family first
No matter the situation, James Chrise had an order of priorities — his wife, his sons and then himself. “Dad would wear the same belt for 30 years, the same pair of shoes for 30 years, so me and my brother could have what we needed,” said his son, Tom...
Murrysville engineer was constantly curious
John D. McAdoo Jr. was constantly curious, with the combined passions of an engineer and an artist. “Anything that involved making anything turned into a giant project of diagrams and research,” said his daughter, Jane Cieply. He loved to create things—including sketches, paintings, architectural drawings, to name a few. “He...
Larry Jock, former Valley News Dispatch publisher, dies while hunting at 58
Standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, Larry Jock had such a big personality that he proved he didn’t need to be the tallest one in the room to command its attention, his former colleagues, friends and family recalled. “He was a smaller guy, bulky and short, but he was a...
Former Westmoreland museum chairman loved art, family
If there was a painting of Western Pennsylvania anywhere in the world, chances are Bruce Wolf could track it down. The former natural gas executive loved art, especially works that depicted his beloved hometown of Pittsburgh. “One of his goals was to collect and retain artwork of Western Pennsylvania and...
Mt. Pleasant Township man remembered for love of family, people
While growing up among coal-mining families in the Standard Shaft neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant Township, Frank Jackson loved being around people, but he had no desire to meet them at the bottom of a mine. “That was not for him,” said his daughter Kristina Behan of Pensacola, Fla. “When he...
Latrobe man passed on his love of outdoors
David W. Planinsek’s life was devoted to the outdoors, whether he was responding to an environmental complaint or teaching a child how to fish. “I’m just one of many that he influenced,” said his son, David E. Planinsek, a state forester. Mr. Planinsek demonstrated respect for the natural world through...
Latrobe man joined brothers in serving country
Victor P. Pierdominici of Latrobe wanted to join his two older brothers, Richard and Louis, who were fighting in World War II, but he did not want to join the Army. He said, “I’d rather be in the Navy,” according to his daughter, Vicki Weimer of Latrobe. Surprisingly, he got...
Sewickley Twp. man strong in his faith
Lloyd Miller was a man of strong faith as a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Irwin and a former active member of Lutheran Church of Our Savior, North Huntingdon. “In every aspect of his life, he lived his faith — 100%,” said his daughter, Paula DeLuise of...
Business relations, cancer charity held personal meaning for Norwin civic leader
Margaree Pertle was strong in her commitment to causes that benefited others, including the fight against cancer. Pertle, who founded the Norwin Relay for Life 15 years ago, took part in the yearly fundraising walk around the Norwin Knights track in North Huntingdon to raise money for cancer research —...
Church organist, music teacher left behind legacy of song
Frances Kintigh could play everything from a Bach cantata to a Scott Joplin rag on her baby grand piano, but the hymns she provided accompaniment for were her favorite form of musical expression. “She loved the songs of the church,” said her daughter, Patricia Kintigh. “Wonderful Words of Life” was...
Greensburg man was local icon at Mt. Odin
For nearly 40 years, Russ Bell was Mr. Mt. Odin. If you were a golfer and you lived in Greensburg, chances are you knew the good-natured man who guided the expansion of the city golf course from nine to 18 holes and made sure the greens at the course were...
Retired Derry teacher loved teaching youngsters
As a young girl growing up in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKees Rocks, Frances E. Hayes was just 16 when she started at the University of Pittsburgh in 1940 and then traveled all the way to Oregon after graduation to take a teaching job where her sister lived. “She was...
Navy veteran survived Korean War attack, shared love of sports
Scottdale native Bill Bair frequently carried an attache case in the early 1950s, but the documents he bore weren’t business files. Often they were important military papers entrusted to him as an assistant to Korean War officers. Though he enlisted in the Navy in 1948, Bair usually traveled aboard airplanes...
Active Greensburg retiree set pace for her family
Sidonia Peruzzi had an independent spirit and a drive that was seemingly boundless. “She was a very energetic person,” said daughter Victoria Waugaman of Hempfield. “She had more stamina than I do.” In her 80s, Mrs. Peruzzi was no longer able to drive her yellow Volkswagen Beetle, but that didn’t...
Lifelong nurse enjoyed travels, modeling
Although nursing defined much of Leilah Potthoff’s life, her interests extended to everything from modeling to volunteering, and traveling to sewing. “If my mom wasn’t a nurse, she probably would have been an actress,” said her daughter, Robbie Potthoff. “My mother liked to keep busy.” Mrs. Potthoff never really retired...
Murrysville dentist greeted everyone he passed
Dr. Ross Miller truly embodied the notion of a family dental practice. “When he started as a dentist in Murrysville, he asked his sister to be the receptionist,” said his daughter, Cheryl Schoone, of Pine Township. “She quit her job and started there, and then when one of his younger...
Greensburg woman had passion for helping others, family
When Chris Luccy was growing up, he said his mom, Barbara, would sit in his room, listening to the elaborate stories he made up for his G.I. Joe. “She sat there and listened to my explanations of everything,” he said. “I think part of why I’m a writer now is...
Greensburg resident had life full of stories
Frank “Bunsie” Novak loved telling stories, and he had plenty to tell. The son of Czech immigrants, he grew up on a farm and went to school in a one-room schoolhouse. He was a star football player in high school and got a scholarship to play at Saint Vincent College,...
Greensburg woman loved to travel – Dec. 18, 2019
Peggy Jean Bell of Greensburg loved to travel with her husband, Tom, to places in the United States and around the world — Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Europe and South America, said her daughter, Cheryl Bell of Ashburn, Va. While she toured foreign lands and experienced the different cultures they...
Scottdale man dedicated to family, Penn Line Service career
When people thought about Penn Line Service, they frequently thought about Franklin Lynn, according to his daughter, Jeanne Kiss of Greensburg. “That’s what he did,” Kiss said. Mr. Lynn worked nearly six decades for the Scottdale company, starting in 1953 and working his way to management and later becoming a...


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