Articles by Teolis Funeral Home

Mr. Frederick “Rick” B. McDowell, 68, of Ellwood City passed away on Thursday, February 18th, 2021 at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Rick was born on November 15th, 1952 in New Castle to Boyd and Mary Ellen (Vogt) McDowell. Rick graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1971, and attended the Beaver County Community College. In his younger years Rick worked at Beatrice’s Gas Station in Ellwood City and New Castle and then for Jim Beatrice’s Food Supply. He then worked at his family’s business “McDowell’s Hotel” on Lawrence Avenue as a manager. Following that, Rick went…

Mrs. Edith (Rocco) Pacella, 95, of Ellwood City, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at Jameson Health Center in New Castle where she had been admitted three days earlier. Born in Ellwood City on Sept. 19, 1925, to the late Samuel and Elizabeth (Arena) Rocco, Edith was a lifelong member of Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish. She was married for 54 years to Arthur B. Pacella prior to his death on May 9th, 2001. Edith loved to cook and bake and spent many years volunteering for various activities and fundraisers at Holy Redeemer Parish. She also volunteered to…

Mrs. Marjorie A. Boots, 59, of Perry Township passed away on Monday, February 8, 2021 at her residence. Mrs. Boots was born in Lock Haven, PA to the late James and Barbara (Yohe) Madden, Sr.. She is a member of the Slippery Rock High School class of 1979. She had worked at Cal’s in Portersville, Dom’s IGA in Ellwood City, and the Ellwood City Hospital as a therapy aide. She also had attended the Union Good Wheel Community Church. Marjorie is survived by her husband, Charles R. Boots whom she married on August 30, 1980, her daughter, Jennifer Black and…

Dustin M. Vignolini, 18, of Franklin Township, passed away on February 5th, 2021 at his residence. Dustin was born on September 24th, 2002 in Ellwood City to Nicholas “Nick” and Laura A. (Schaffer) Vignolini. Dustin was a senior at Riverside High School. He enjoyed many activities such as playing x-box, quad riding, hunting, fishing, archery, motor-cross, and hanging out with his friends, especially his big brother, Dylan. He is survived by his parents, his brother, Dylan Vignolini of Franklin Twp, his sisters, Nataly Vignolini of Wampum, Nichole Vignolini of Franklin Twp., his maternal grandparents Jeff and Barb Schaffer of Franklin…

Carl A. Fresca, 68, of Ellwood City passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boardman, Ohio. Carl was born in New Brighton on September 22, 1952 to the late Carmen (aka Carlo Frisk) and Betty (Workman) Freska. He had graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1970, and later earned a degree in computer science. For 30 years he worked for the Norfolk Southern Railroad in Michigan and later in Greentree as a computer analyst. He had been a very active member of the First Baptist Church in Ellwood City. Carl enjoyed…

Shari Lynn Best, 35, of New Brighton, PA was granted her angel wings on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 9:45PM at Heritage Valley Medical Center in Beaver, PA. Her final days were spent happily at McGuire Memorial Home where she spent 32 years of her life. The family would like to thank McGuire for loving and caring for Shari like their own throughout her life. They truly are a “special place for special people.” Shari was small but mighty. When she was born on August 6, 1985 the doctors said she may only have one week on this earth, but…

Mrs. Joan M. Stramella, 91, passed away on Thursday, January 28th, 2021 at St. Anne’s Home in Greensburg. Mrs. Stramella was born on October 30th, 1929, in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania to the late Joseph and Casimira “Theresa” (Mrozinski) Pleva. Joan was the last surviving member of the Pleva family. She had graduated from Natrona Heights High School with the class of 1947. She was a member of the Mother of Sorrows Parish in Murrysville, and later a member of the Holy Redeemer Parish in Ellwood City, where she was a member of the Christian Mothers. She is survived by her…

Mrs. Cynthia Suzan (Hilliard) Gatto, 73, of Ellwood City passed away peacefully at home on the morning of January 27, 2021. Mrs. Gatto was born in Connoquenessing, PA on October 29, 1947 to the late Harold and Mary (Boyer) Hilliard. She had graduated from Butler High School and Slippery Rock University with a degree in education. Cynthia left a legacy with all the children she taught at the Holy Redeemer Catholic School. She greatly enjoyed the close relationship she had with her sisters and brothers. She enjoyed gardening and happy outings at her family’s campground and lake. She will be…

Margaret “Peggy” Nido Foley, 81, of Morningstar Drive, Ellwood City, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021, after an extended illness. Peggy was born on July 18, 1939, in Ellwood City, to the late Angelo and Angelina Nido. Peggy was an active alumna of the Lincoln High School graduating class of 1956, worked at the Ellwood Knitting Mill, graduated from New Castle Beauty School and in a flash was off and operating her legacy Nido’s Beauty Shops. She was a fixture of Lawrence Avenue for almost 60 years. She also was quite the business woman branching out to two other…

Mrs. Patricia “Pat” J. Gerello, 85, of Ellport passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 13, 2021 in her loving daughter’s home following a brief illness, with her family at her side. “It is with great sadness that we say “Goodbye” for now to our dear mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, but our sadness is tempered by knowledge that she will be reunited with her loved ones and will one day welcome all of us home.” Born October 29, 1935 in New Brighton, the daughter of the late Faye and Ellen Teets. She attended New Brighton High School and graduated…