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Obituary Stories category, Page 27

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Edward Constantine of Southwest Greensburg was ‘ultimate role model’
Edward Constantine was a family man par excellence. As the last Constantine of his generation, he was a father figure to many and the “ultimate role model,” said his son Michael. “His whole life revolved around his wife, his kids, his grandkids and his great-grandkids,” Michael Constantine said. “He was...
Anna Karina, the icon of French New Wave cinema, dies at 79
PARIS — Anna Karina, the French New Wave actress who became an icon of the cinema in the 1960s and was the muse of Jean-Luc Godard, has died. She was 79. The French culture minister announced her death on Twitter on Sunday. French media said that the Danish-born Karina had...
Mt. Pleasant man endured missile crisis, mining accident, shared lifelong love of golf
Skilled golfer John J. Konieczny Jr. continued to play the “game of kings” while stationed with the Navy in Norfolk, Va., in the early 1960s. He also played a part in one of the deadliest games in history — the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that threatened nuclear conflict between...
Blue-collar character actor Danny Aiello has died at age 86 
NEW YORK — Danny Aiello, the blue-collar character actor whose long career playing tough guys included roles in “Fort Apache, the Bronx,” “The Godfather, Part II,” “Once Upon a Time in America” and his Oscar-nominated performance as a pizza man in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” has died. He...
Murrysville man fell in love with the great outdoors
Whether it was his career as a railroad engineer, hunting moose and grizzly bears in Alaska, or running Wilson’s Nursery in Murrysville, Bill Wilson wanted to be outside. That love of the outdoors also led him to his wife of 64 years, Marie (Rosenbayger) Wilson. “There was an archery place...
Yough teacher, coach taught loyalty and integrity
As a longtime teacher, athletic director and coach, Angelo J. Delaini Jr. earned the respect of students in the Yough School District. “It’s funny how many people have come up to me over the years, or even just in the last few days… who always speak of him very highly,”...
George Laurer, inventor of ubiquitous UPC, dies at 94
WENDELL, N.C. — George J. Laurer, whose invention of the Universal Product Code at IBM transformed retail and other industries around the world, has died. He was 94. A funeral was held on Monday for Laurer, who died Thursday at his home in Wendell, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh....
East Huntingdon radiologist achieved ‘the American dream’
When Benedict Mariano Jr. decided he wanted to pursue the American dream, his whole family worked to help him achieve it. “He was the oldest of six kids, and his father was gone a lot working on a boat, so he was kind of the man of the family,” said...
Service was a way of life for World War II veteran
Carl Ross initially was rejected for World War II service because he had flat feet. But that didn’t deter the 18-year-old New Kensington native. “He just kept trying,” said his daughter, Joyce Andrews. “He tried all the branches, and nobody would take him. Then he went back to the Army...
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet CEO, founder dies at 61
BALTIMORE — The founder and CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has died at the age of 61. A statement from the company’s board of directors says Mark Butler died unexpectedly Sunday while spending time with his family for Thanksgiving. Butler founded the outlet chain with Mort Bernstein, Oliver “Ollie” Rosenberg...
Irwin man brought fun, music to many
Robert R. LaVella wanted to make people happy. At work he sold and rented supplies for festivals and parties. In his free time he played drums with the “Bobby Lavella Quartet.” And wherever he went he was quick with a joke. “He was always telling a joke, always telling stories,”...
Nick J. Petrishen, owner of Nick Chevrolet in Tarentum, dies at 77
The night before he suffered a stroke that would ultimately take his life, Nick Petrishen Jr. went with his only son to see the movie “Ford v Ferrari.” “He really enjoyed it the whole time,” said his son Nick S. Petrishen, 50, of Natrona Heights. “The ironic part is the...
North Huntingdon woman was a whiz with numbers
Marion Campbell was a whiz with numbers. “She could total a column of numbers so easily, so she did the book work and managed the finances for the family’s business, Campbell’s Service Center,” said her daughter, Diane Rhodes of North Huntingdon. “She was very devoted to the business. That was...
Scottdale man survived 90 combat bombing missions in two wars
John Kalish flew so many combat missions in World War II that he reached the maximum number allowed. Still in flight school on D-Day, Mr. Kalish was a navigator on 35 missions in the Mediterranean theater in 1944 and 1945. He got called back to active duty during the Korean...
Greensburg machinist loved golfing, children
Denise Engler says her father, John Raynor, never got tired of children. “He’d take off work for Halloween so he could give out candy,” said Engler, a Greensburg resident. “If there was a holiday dinner coming up, he’d always ask, ‘Are there kids coming?’ He loved children and went out...
Slickville woman was dedicated to community, church
Pretty much everybody in Slickville knew Mary Maruca. “She loved her town. … She definitely loved her church,” her son Joseph Maruca said. She served as president of the Slickville Civic Center for more than 40 years, making sure it was ready for Slickville Lions Club meetings, senior citizen luncheons,...
Scottdale teacher, school board member believed in service to community
Frank Stoner Jr. believed in serving his community, whether it was from a World War II bomber, a classroom or a seat on a school board. “He took his responsibilities to heart,” said his sister, Virginia Hill. “He did what he was supposed to do. He was just a very...
Rev. Paul Poole felt the call to ministry as a teenager
As a teenager growing up in the East Huntingdon village of Tarrs in the early 1970s, Paul D. Poole found the path he would follow the rest of his life. “He felt the call to serve in the ministry at age 16. He was influenced by his pastor, Wesley Jantsen,”...
North Huntingdon man loved his family, restoring old cars
George J. “Jim” Tomasic Jr., of North Huntingdon, had a talent for fixing things, whether it was working on a project around the house or it was restoring and repairing old cars. But, first and foremost, he dedicated to his family, said his wife of 30 years, Joan L. Tomasic....
Former fire chief served Ligonier community
John Vucina of Ligonier Township was a man who served his country during a time of war and served his community for more than 60 years as a member of his local fire department. He left Ligonier High School in his junior year to enlist in the Army during World...
Vietnam veteran was devoted to country, fellow service members
The two years Skip Hornbake spent with the Marines during the Vietnam War were just the beginning of a life of service. “He never stopped serving his country,” said son Thomas Gauthier. “He always felt he had to give back, donate time, money and anything he could. He would always...
Latrobe woman loved travel, history
One year in the late 1990s, Olive Hostovich learned she’d be hosting the extended family for Christmas in Latrobe. “We came from all over the country,” said her daughter Laura Braun, of Glenmoore, Chester County. “California, from Texas; we lived in Philadelphia; my sister lived in Williamsport; aunts, uncles; it...
Youngstown postmaster was dedicated to community
Dean Musick was a small-town postmaster whose mettle was tested in the Pacific Theater of World War II. “He was totally dedicated to his work, and he wouldn’t take a day off,” said his son, Craig Musick. “Work was always really important to him,” said his daughter, Debbie Musick. Mr....
Mt. Pleasant nurse loved volunteering, telling a great story
Patricia Miller wanted to take care of others, whether it was her medical career, volunteering at the local food bank or caring for her mother. “She went to school at Westmoreland County Community College and wanted to be a nurse because she had seen the love and care our family...
Cabinet maker loved gardening, softball and family
“Red” Ponko used to arrange the winter rye in his garden so that the sprouting plants would spell the names of his nieces and nephews. He was an avid gardener, with a very specific philosophy. “He said if you couldn’t eat it, it wasn’t worth planting,” said his wife, Mary...


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