Obituaries

Stephen P. Meyer, 67, of Franklin Township passed away on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his residence from a lengthy illness.

Stephen was born in Pittsburgh on June 13th, 1956 to the late Paul and Patricia (Rheam) Meyer. He had graduated from Seneca Valley High School and briefly attended Penn State University, Beaver Campus. He then joined his father and brother Paul in the family business Meyer’s Tire and Auto Salvage located in both Zelienople and Beaver Falls as a co-owner and operator. He is a member of the Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer Church. While his sons where growing up, he was an Assistant  Purification BVM School Blazers Basketball Coach and Ellwood City Amateur Baseball Federation Coach for Farm League, Little League, and Pony League.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Michele “Shelly” (Vetica) Meyer whom he married on July 17th, 1976, three children and their spouses, Eric (Shelley) Meyer, Mathew (Krystal) Meyer and Lisa (Jim) Lind and nine grandchildren, Adam, Jacoby and Cecelia Meyer; Dylan, Emma, Mason and Kate Meyer; and Jameson and Grayson Lind.

His greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, while battling MS for 20 years, which never stopped him from going to watch his grandchildren’s games, spending time with them, or continuing to run his business. He loved coaching his kids’ teams and made an impact on all the kids lucky enough to be on one of his teams.  He fought something so difficult with honor and strength.  We will miss him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Cathy Dambaugh, and brother Paul Meyer.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 3-7 pm at the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc.. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday at 11:30 am at the Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer Catholic Center with Father Joe Freedy officiating.

Memorial contributions in Stephen’s name may be made to: Club Hope Foundation, www.clubhopefoundation.com

Mr. George Sabo, 80, formerly of Ellwood City, passed away on April 12th, 2024 at his home in Naples, Florida.

George was born on September 22nd, 1943 in Szentes, Hungary to the late Leslie and Elizabeth (Vegh) Sabo Sr.. George was a member of the St. Peter the Apostle Church in Naples, former, long-time member of Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville, MI and Classics Country Club in Naples. He retired as Executive Vice President with Johnson Controls Inc., Automotive Division. His greatest life interest was Sunday golf with his three sons, followed by Sunday dinner with the family.

He is survived by his wife, Olga (Nocera) Sabo whom he married on August 26th, 1961, sons, Tony (Leslie) Sabo, Steve (Michelle) Sabo, and Michael (Bonnie) Sabo, grandchildren, Justin (Shena) Sabo, Jacki (Jeremiah) Baltzer, Anthony (Shayna) Sabo, Dominic (Lexie) Sabo, Matthew Sabo, Nick Sabo, and Shannon Sabo, great-grandchildren, Elly and J.T. Sabo, Wolf and Zeus Baltzer, and Levi and Macy Sabo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo Jr..

Family and friends will be received in the Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer Catholic Center on May 11th, 2024 from 10:00 am until the memorial Mass begins at 11:00 am with Monsignor John Budde officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

Memorial donations in George’s name may be made out to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, in memory of Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. at: www.vvmf.org/giving-to-vvmf/ or 3033 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA, 22201.

Lois A. Stephenson Kosior, 86, of New Wilmington (formerly of Wampum) passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024 at UPMC Jameson Hospital following a short illness.

Born July 5, 1937 in Ellwood City, she was the youngest child born to the late Charles B. and Mary Bartle Snyder.

A graduate of Wampum High School, Lois worked in the Dairy Department at Kroger’s in various locations in the area and then Food Service at Westminster College. She was a member of the Wampum American Legion Auxiliary and the New Beaver Borough Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. In her younger years she enjoyed ice fishing. Some of her other interests were sitting in her favorite chair, where she enjoyed rooting for the Steelers and Pirates, and watching the birds, squirrels, and traffic go by.

Survivors include daughter, Cherie (Steve) Catale of Neshannock Township; three grandsons, Christopher (Rachel), Corey (Caitlyn), and Andrew (Elyse) Catale; five great-grandchildren with one on the way, and her sister, Pearl Marich of Shenango Township.

She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Harry Curtis Stephenson, second husband Thomas J. Kosior; two brothers Kenneth and John Snyder, and three sisters, M. Alma Snyder, Alberta Lynch, and Bertha Stephenson.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday April 24, 2024 from 11:00 am until the Funeral Service at 1:00 pm at the Marshall Funeral Home, 341 Main Street Wampum. Pastor Bryan Warner of the Wayside Emanuel Church will officiate.

Interment will follow in Clinton Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the New Beaver Borough Fire Department Auxiliary. 898 Wampum New Galilee Rd. New Galilee Pa, 16141.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at UPMC Critical Care Unit and AHN Home Health Care for their kind and compassionate care.

Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com

Michael Joseph Yopp, 75, of Patterson Heights passed away, surrounded, by his family on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at his home. He is the son of the late Florence (Pavletic) Rhines and Tony Rhines and was born in Rochester.

He is survived by his wife, of 44 years, Janet Yopp of West Mayfield; his sons; Mike Yopp of Beaver Falls, Tyler Yopp and his fiancé Tiffany Davis of Patterson Heights, his grandchildren; Justin and Brianna Yopp, Augustine and Alexander Mutkus; his sister; Sherrie Haines and her husband Rob of Indiana, his uncle; Paul Cogis, his niece and nephew; Nykx Diggle and Rob Ewing, and his close friends; Jolly and Ronnie Evans and Robb along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was born and raised in Aliquippa and attended Hopewell High School. He served in the US Army and was a very proud veteran. He met and married his wife Janet on July 12, 1980. He was employed in his early life at American Bridge as a welder in Ambridge and was then employed by J.J Trucking in East Palestine, OH, finally he was employed at MoFab in Indiana. He was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman, and his best times were fishing with his grandchildren. He loved driving and going to Car Cruises, he collected knives and made a point to always make sure they were sharp and ready to use He loved watching TV shows about knife making, especially Foraged by Fire. He loved to build his creations especially welding unique abstract things. Michael loved to cook, especially using his iron skillets. More than anything he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and close friend to all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his two daughters; Mickey Mutkus and Jaime Yopp, his brother; Bruce Rhines, and his aunt; Sandra Cogis and his grandparents; Mike and Elva Pavletic.

Friends may call on the family on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 5:00PM-7:00PM at Turner Funeral Home with a Memorial Service following at 7:00PM, with Pastor Bill Blume, officiating.

Military Honors will be rendered by the Veteran’s Honor Guard prior to the service.

Arrangements entrusted to the Turner Funeral & Cremation Services located at 6th and Park in Ellwood City.

Mrs. Ann C (Mottillo) Plavecsky, 93, passed away on April 15th, 2024 at Advent Health Hospice Care, Altamonte Springs Florida. Ann was born on September 29th, 1930, to the late Guiseppe and Maria (Cusanelli) Mottillo.

Ann was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, Pa. After graduation, Ann attended the Garfield School of Business in Beaver Falls, Pa. She later worked at the St. Agatha Rectory and convent and as a nanny to close friends in her community, who often referred to her as “Grandma Annie.” She was a member of the Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer Church, an active member of the Christian Mothers, the Hungarian Women’s club, and the Lincoln High School Reunion Committee. In her later years, she spent time with her niece, Laur Hagan, in Colorado, her daughters, Geralyn Schafer, and Marianne Plavecsky in Erie, Pa before moving to Winter Park, Florida with her daughter, Luanne Rossi.

She enjoyed spending time with her friends, her children and grandchildren and with the people in her community, always with a big smile, warm embraces, and comforting words to others. Ann loved to sing songs. Often times, she would create her own songs. She had a song for just about anything and would make others laugh when she sang to them, even into her elderly years while at the nursing home that she resided in. Her songs lit up the room with warmth and laughter.

She is survived by her children, Robert (Marie) Plavecsky, of Ellwood City, Brian Plavecsky of Ellwood City, James (Heidi) Plavecsky of Pickerington, Ohio, Marianne Plavecsky of Erie, Pa, Geralyn (Robert) Schafer of Erie, Pa and Luanne Rossi (Richard Harrison) of Winter Park, Florida. She is also survived by her niece, Laur Hagan, of Centenial Colorado, who was like a daughter to her, and by many other nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Maria and Guiseppe Mottillo, her husband, Louis A. Plavecsky, her sister, Alice (Mottillo) Hagan, and brother, Victor Mottillo, as well as a grandson, Jamie Sansone, of Erie, Pa.

It is said that when one door closes, another one opens. Ann is now with God and has been reunited with her loved ones who have passed. She is singing songs in Heaven as she once did on this Earth, lighting up the room as she is surrounded by warmth and love.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4-7 pm at the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. in Ellwood City. A mass of Christian burial will be held at the Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer Catholic Center on Thursday at 10:00 am with Father Jim Wehner officiating. A private burial will follow at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Members of the Holy Redeemer Christian Mothers are asked to meet at the Catholic Center on Thursday by 9:50 am to form an honor guard.

Memorial Contributions in Ann Plavecsky’s name may be made to the Divine Grace Parish Holy Redeemer Angel Fund, or to the Ellwood City Public Library.

Anthony Robert Valvano, 65, has suddenly left this mortal plane. It is next to impossible to describe the hole this leaves in the lives of his loving wife of 48 years, Cheryl Klinesmith Valvano, his children Angela Valvano and Anthony Valvano, his grandchildren Isabella Williams and Ryan Ostendorf, Anneleise Williams and Justin McIsaac, Angelo Williams and Amber Guo, and Jacob Valvano.

He also leaves behind an aunt and uncle, Colleen and Raymond Yaro, a brother Mark Friello and his wife Brenda, a sister Robin Lohr, a sister-in-law Marty Warchol, nieces and nephews Amy Lutz, Frank Lohr, George Lohr, Lora Lohr, Lisa Young and Kayla Friello, their beautiful children, and so many other family members and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by the two beloved women who raised him, his mother Maryann Friello and grandmother Rose Pratt, his father Anthony “Muzzy” Valvano, his stepfather Patsy Friello, his mother and father-in-law, Mary Alice and Frank Klinesmith, and his brother-in-law Jim Ludwig.

Tony was employed by the Andy Warhol Museum for 28 years as an Art Handler and was a profoundly accomplished wood sculptor, artist and carpenter. He loved hunting, guns, bow- making, art and design, and nature in all its forms. There was nothing he couldn’t and wouldn’t do for his family and friends.

Public viewing will be held at the Marshall Funeral Home (Wampum) on Saturday, 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm.
An open house wake will follow at the Valvano home.

In lieu of flowers, please spend quality time with your loved ones, sit in wonder and awe of the beauty of nature, and laugh heartily at yourself every chance you get. If you really want to honor Tony’s memory, may we suggest you do so with a Honey Whiskey or a G&T in hand.
If those suggestions were not enough, you may contribute directly to the World Land Trust and fund the purchase of an acre of land to preserve wildlife habitat across the globe or to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund to help get urgent care to the suffering children of Gaza. Both were causes that were very meaningful to Tony.

Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com