Obituaries

With deep love and steadfast faith, we celebrate the life of Kathryn Marie “Kate” Wear who was called home to be with the Lord on April 25, 2026, and entered peacefully into eternal rest.

Born November 8, 1930, in Wampum, she was the daughter of the late Frank G. and Sylvia Rose Portugallo Ferrante. She was married to Harry L. Wear Jr. when he passed away on April 29, 2010.

Kate graduated from Lincoln in 1948. She was a current member of the 1st Assembly Church in New Castle. Kate worked as a clerk at the Ellwood City Forge for over 25 years until her retirement in 1988.

Kate was a devoted Servant of God whose life reflected grace, kindness, and unwavering trust in the Lord. She brought comfort and light to all who knew her, living each day guided by faith and compassion. She was a devoted sister, wife, aunt, and friend, whose loving, kind, and generous spirit touched the lives of all who knew her. Known for a truly giving heart, Kate found joy in helping others, always ready with a warm smile, listening ear, or helping hand. Her life was a reflection of Christ’s love.

Survivors include sister, Yvonne D. Diehl of New Galilee; brother, James E. Ferrante of New Castle, and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families who will continue to honor her legacy of faith, love, and humility. Though deeply missed, we find comfort knowing Kate now rests in the arms of the Lord.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Frances Schotsch, sister-in-law, Connie Ferrante, and brothers-in-law, John Schotsch and Paul Diehl.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday April 29, 2026, from 3 until the funeral service at 5 pm at the Marshall Funeral Home, 341 Main Street Wampum. Rev. Daniel Muir of the Chippewa Alliance Church will officiate.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim 4:7

Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com

Darl J. “Jack” Allen, 87, of Portersville passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at his residence.

Born April 21, 1939, at the Jameson Hospital in New Castle, he was the son of the late L.D. “Skinny” and Emma B. Cragle Allen.

Jack graduated from Lincoln High School. He was employed at Medusa Cement for 20 years where he worked as a kiln burner and also served as Chief of Police in Wayne Twp. for 20 years. He enjoyed listening to and playing country music on his bass guitar. His most cherished times were spent with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Viccari Allen; daughter, Tonya R. Allen; son, John Douglas (Judy) Allen; two grandsons, John (Courtney) Allen and Tommy Corwin; granddaughter, Bonnie Corwin and six great grandchildren; Mandy, Lucy, Benny, Teddy, Kyra, and Stanley.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Denice Corwin, brother, Frank D. Allen, and sister-in-law, Nora Allen.

Per his request, no services will be held. Interment will be in Clinton Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com

David Lee Stone, 47, of Ellport, passed away at his residence on April 21st, 2026.

David was born on May 26th, 1979 to Sheree (Miskolcze) Hockenberry and David Stone. He graduated from Lincoln High School. David was an equipment operator, excavator, and auto mechanic for his grandfather’s company, “Jul’s Auto Repair” and through out the local area. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working on cars.

He is survived by his mother, Sheree, of Ellport, and son Julian Stone of Ellport.

As per David’s wishes there will be no public service. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc.

Jennie (Calve) Safreed, 105, Franklin Twp passed away peacefully in her sleep at Trinity Oaks in Ellwood City. She was the daughter of the late Nick and Caterine (Tornese) Calve and was born in the region of Calabria, Italy on March 11, 1921.

After going through immigration procedures at Ellis Island, Mrs. Safreed arrived with her family in Ellwood City on December 6, 1926.

Jennie Safreed lived and worked her entire life in the Ellwood City community. She worked in the accounting offices of the local US Steel plant from 1941 until the plant’s closing in 1975. During that time, she received further education. Mrs. Safreed was certified in Industrial Accounting from Penn State College in 1943 and received additional certification in the field of Business Machine Calculating from the Garfield Business Institute in 1947.

On December 19, 1970, Jennie married Paul Safreed, to whom she was married for 35 years. Mr. Safreed died on October 27, 2005. Jennie led an active life in the community. She was a CCD instructor at the former Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish. Mrs. Safreed was also a member and past president of the Ellwood City Garden Guild. She persisted in pursuing friendly card club activities offered in the Ellwood area. She maintained a gracious manner with numerous families, friends, and acquaintances, including a multitude of neighborhood children.

Other surviving family members include Wesley Ann (Calve) and her husband Vince Meneice of Franklin Twp., Paul (Rusty) Young of New Brighton. Mrs. Safreed also has several nieces and nephews living across the United States: John, Jim, and JoAnn Calve, Laura and Nancy LoBianco, Patricia, Josephine, Gene, and Edward Romano. Numerous great-nieces and great-nephews also survive, including those individuals living in the Ellwood City community: Carli (Young) and her husband Tanner Gilchrist and Samantha Young, Sarah (Calve) and her husband Zach Kruger, Andrew Calve, and her two great-great nieces; Lucy Ann and Mya Drew Gilchrist.

She is preceded in death by her husband Paul Safreed, by two sisters: Mary (Calve) LoBianco and Rose (Calve) Romano, three brothers: Francis Calve, Joseph Calve, and Nick Calve, and one nephew, David Calve and two nieces; Barbara (Calve) YoungJoAnn (LoBianco) Seidel.

The family would like to thank Trinity Oaks for their continued care, love and compassion shown to Jennie over the years she was a resident.

Friends may call on the family from 12:15pm-2:15pm on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Turner-Hyde Funeral Home in Ellwood City. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at Divine Grace Parish-Holy Redeemer Church at 2:30PM with Fr. James A. Wehner celebrating the mass.

Interment will be in Holy Redeemer Cemetery located in Ellwood City

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations be made in Jennie’s name to the Ellwood City Library.

Arrangements entrusted to the TURNER-HYDE FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES located at 6th and Park in Ellwood City.

John L. Schutte Jr., 65, of Beaver Falls passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 20, 2026, at his residence.

Born October 16, 1960, in Rochester, he was the son of the late John Sr. and Elva Teapole Schutte.

John enjoyed driving his fast cars and attending car shows. He also enjoyed visiting flea markets, especially Rodgers, bowling, and loved the Tasmanian Devil. Above all, he cherished moments spent with his family.

Survivors include his beloved wife Virginia Nicholson Schutte; two daughters, Chantal Schutte and Abigail Schutte; son, Jeremy Bundy; sister, Dusty (Curt) Schutte-Fenchel; niece, Sophia, and nephews, Scott Jr. and Sean Estermyer all of Beaver Falls.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Johnny III, brother, Scott, and niece, Amber Fenchel.

Friends and family will be received on Friday April 24, 2026, from 5 to 7 pm at the Spratt Funeral Home, 1901 7th Ave. Beaver Falls.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the funeral home in care of the family.

Mary Jane Hergenrother Navolio, 93, of Ellwood City passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospice House following an extended illness.

Born July 27, 1932, in Chewton, she was the daughter of the late John Oliver and Dorothy May Wigley Hergenrother of Chewton.

Mary Jane graduated from Lincoln High School, Class of 1950, and was a graduate of Geneva College. She worked for Scharr Jewelry Distributors from Hartford, CT as a District Manager. She was a member of the former St. Agatha’s Church in Ellwood City.

Mary Jane is survived by two daughters, Melissa (Ken) Gates of Ellwood City and Melinda (Brad) Miles of Henderson, NV; two sons, Mark Navolio of White Oak, PA, and Michael (Brenda) Navolio of Darlington; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; a sister Valli (Dave) Mittner Ripley of Gilbert, AZ; one nephew and one great nephew.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two-year-old sister, Helen May Hergenrother.

There will be a private Catholic Rite of Committal at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Ellwood City, and a memorial Mass later in the year at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tempe, AZ.

Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com.

Mrs. Myrtle L. Patton, 84, of North Sewickley Township passed away on Friday, April 17th, 2026 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Patton was born in Munhall, PA on August 30th, 1941 to the late Sumner and Myrtle (Bragg) Moody. She is a member of the Munhall High School class of 1959 and the Concord Church. Over the years Myrtle had worked at many places with her many focus on being a homemaker. Her greatest joy was time spent with her grandchildren and especially her great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Shari and Ron D’Achille, sons and daughters-in-law, Rick and Helena Patton and Ray and Robin Patton all of North Sewickley Township, grandchildren, Rick (Anthony) Patton II, Adam (Ann) D’Achille, Alan (Amanda) D’Achille, Laura (Nick) Brightwell, and Marissa (Matt) Taylor, nine great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Silas H. Patton whom she married on June 25th, 1959, just shy of 61 years, and passed away on February 4th, 2020, her dear sister, Alice “May” Macaulay, and brothers, John Moody, Michael Moody, and Raymond Moody, and many in-laws.

Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 from 3:00 pm until the time of the service at 6:00 pm at the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. with Rev. Chris Kindle officiating.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Patton’s name may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.

Helen Caroline Boots, 84, of Perry Township passed away on Monday, April 13, 2026, at Butler Memorial Hospital in Butler. She was the daughter of the late William and Gertrude (Burr) Frishkorn and was born January 3, 1942, in Zelienople.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years; Norman L. Boots Jr, her children; Norman L. Boots, III and his wife Theresa (Richard) of Perry Twp, A Surviving daughter in-law Julianne (Stoops) Boots of Perry Twp, Timothy J. Boots and his wife Nora (Beachem) of Perry Twp, Teresa L. (Boots) Sinclair and her husband Michael, Sr. of Perry Twp. Their grandchildren; Michael Sinclair, Jr, Madison (Sinclair) Hill and husband Tyler Sr, Jerry Boots, April Boots, and Raleigh Boots. Their great-grandchildren; Brantley Boots, Natalie Hill, Tyler Hill, Jr. One brother; Kenneth Frishkorn and his wife Vicki of Jackson Twp.

She met and married the love of her life, Norman L. Boots, Jr, in June 1961. They had 4 children together. Helen loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren while spoiling her great-grandchildren. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, cooking and canning. She was fond of gardening and bidding at auctions for hidden treasures. She was known to scratch a lottery ticket or two. Helen held various job titles. The ones she reminisced of the most was being a short order cook at the former “Double J’s” in Ellwood City as well as being an assistant manager at Dairy Queen in Zelienople. She found being a foster mom to many children for over 25 years very rewarding. Her foster daughter Hayley Alvarez remained especially close over the years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and caring friend.

She is preceded in death by her son; Gerald D. Boots, her siblings; William Frishkorn, Sonny Frishkorn, and Margaret Myers.

The Family will receive friends on Monday, April 20, 2026, from 2:00PM-4:00pm with a Funeral Service beginning at 4:00pm at Turner-Hyde Funeral Home in Ellwood City with Pastor Cody Freeman of “Three Rivers Free Will Baptist Church” Butler County, Cranberry Twp, PA. presiding.

Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ellwood City, Perry Twp.

Arrangements entrusted to the TURNER-HYDE FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES located at 6th and Park in Ellwood City.

Ms. Coleen S. Myers, 69, of Ellwood City passed away on the morning of Monday, April 13th, 2026 with her loving family at her bedside at Northview Estates.

Coleen was born in Ellwood City on February 9th, 1957 to the late William R. and Gertrude E. (Hamilton) Myers. She is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1975. She also graduated from Slippery Rock University in 1979 earning a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science, University of North Texas with a Masters degree in Land Water Resource Management in 1983, Masters Degree in General Counseling in 1992, and in 1994 a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of North Texas. Coleen worked for the State of Missouri in 1985 as a Waste Management Specialist, from 1988 to 1992 for the University of North Texas as a Water Quality Specialist, from 1993-1994 for the State of Texas as a Rehabilitation Counselor, Americor in 2008, and from 2011 to 2019 as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Pennsylvania. Coleen was a candy decorator and enjoyed collecting dolls and beanie babies.

She is survived by her sisters, Margaret Myers (Robert VandeGeijn) of Pflugerville, TX and Carol Miller of Ellwood City, brother and sister-in-law, William and Martha Myers of Monaca, Nieces and nephews, Bryce (Lauren) Myers, Pierce Myers, Chase Myers, William Wyatt Myers, Jade Miller, Lace Ann (Aaron) Crittenden, and Scott Adam Miller, and great-nieces and nephews, Zoey Myers, Piper Miller, and Jeffrey Leddon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother-in-law, Larry Miller.

Following Coleen’s wishes there will not be a public service. Interment will be at the Locust Grove Cemetery. The funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc.