Obituaries

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John F. Shaffer, 90

John F. Shaffer, 90, of Perry Township, passed away at his residence on Friday, July 17, 2020. Born on March 1, 1930 in New Castle, Pennsylvania. John is the son of the late Samuel and Christina Dolter Shaffer. John is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Eleanor “Nellie” Smith, they were married on September 4, 1948. John was a truck driver for Montgomery Ward and after they closed, for FreyMiller. He was a member of Wurtemburg United Presbyterian Church. In his spare time, John enjoyed driving truck and riding his motorcycle. In addition to his wife, Nellie, John…


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Thomas M. White, 73

Thomas M. White, 73, of R.J. Schill Manor, Ellwood City passed away at Quality Life Services, New Castle on Monday, July 13, 2020. Born in Ellwood City on December 23, 1946, Thomas was the son of the late George E. and Mary Long White. Thomas worked at US Steel, and later at the Ellwood City Hospital in Maintenance. Thomas is survived by his sister, Diana Campbell of Slippery Rock, his brother, David A. White of New Castle and several nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Joseph A. Tomon, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 97 Grim Ave., Ellport.


Reverend Father Joseph J. Dascenzo, 88

Reverend Father Joseph J. Dascenzo, 88, of Baden passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2020 at the Concordia Villa St. Joseph. Father Joe was born on February 29, 1932 in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh to the late Michael and Johanna (Morrisey) Dascenzo. Father Joe completed his course of study at the St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa and was ordained a Priest on May 31, 1958. He had served as a Priest at the following assignment’s; Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish (June 12, 1958 – June 9, 1959) Parochial Vicar, Immaculate Conception Parish (June 10, 1959 –…


Benjamin Frank Dottle, Sr, 88

Benjamin Frank Dottle, Sr, 88, of New Castle, PA, passed away at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, PA, on July 10, 2020. He was the son of the late Louis and Erma (Guigliotto) Dottle and was born March 10, 1932, in New Castle, PA He is survived by his Wife; Leta D. (Marino) Dottle, Sons; Benjamin “Ben” F. Dottle Jr. and his wife Janeanne of New Castle, PA, William “Bill” Dottle of New Castle, Ralph E. Dottle , and 2 Daughters to a Previous marriage Linda and Gayle of Erie Pa. 12 grandchildren, many great grandchildren. 2 brothers Louis (Pete) Dottle…


Mr. Charles M. Dudash, 85

Mr. Charles M. Dudash, 85, of Ellport passed away on Friday, July 10, 2020 at the UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle. Mr. Dudash was born on June 23, 1935 in Ellwood City to the late Elizabeth (Mozes) Dudash. He was a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1953, and the Holy Redeemer Parish. Charles enlisted with the U.S. Airforce on October 25, 1954 and served with the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at the Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas as a jet mechanic until his discharge on October 24, 1958 with the rank of Sergeant….


Dr. Donald E. Hall, 81

Dr. Donald Elliott Hall, 81, of Wadsworth Ohio, passed away peacefully on June 28th, 2020 at The Sanctuary Wadsworth following a long battle with vascular dementia. Born on May 5, 1939, in Ellwood City, PA, Don was the second of four children born to Charles R. and Virginia E Brooks Hall. Don graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957. He went on to earn a Bachelors in Education from Indiana University in Pennsylvania in 1961. He then went on to earn his Masters of Education from Westminster College in 1967 and then earned his PhD in Speech Pathology from Ohio…


Margaret McElwain, 88

Margaret McElwain, 88, of Fombell passed away Saturday, July 4, 2020 at her residence following a brief illness. Born October 27, 1931 in Fombell, she was the daughter of the late Harvey Oliver and Eva (Steffler) Nye. She was married to Paul McElwain who passed away October 20, 2015. Margaret was raised doing chores on the Nye family farm. A hard worker, Margaret worked at many different jobs, including cooking at the Salvation Army (Camp Allegheny), Riverside School Cafeteria, and at the snack bar at Freeway Lanes. She had also worked at the former Ellwood City Mattress Factory. Margaret was…


Nancy L. Mercado, 77

Nancy L. Mercado, 77, of Koppel passed away Friday, July 3, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born December 18, 1942 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late Joe and Dorothy Kirkwood Wright. Nancy worked at Ames department store and also at Thompson Restaurant in Harmony. She enjoyed cooking and camping. Survivors include two daughters, Judy (Paul) Johnston and Linda (Andy) Boots of Ellwood City; two sisters, Margaret “Peg” Best of Ohio, and Joanne (Paige) Best of Fombell; two brothers, Jerry (Patti) Wright of Freedom and Robert (Liz) Wright of Fombell; two sisters in law Bertha and…


Joseph Manion Ludwig, Sr

Joseph Manion Ludwig, Sr, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, died Thursday, July 2, 2020, in his Ellwood City home following a brief period of failing health, and surrounded by family who loved him. He was born in Magee Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA on January 29, 1933. His father, Louis (Lou) Neal Ludwig, and his mother, Margaret (Peg) Manion Ludwig, hailed from families with a deep history in Carnegie, PA. Joe’s maternal grandfather was two years old when he came to America from Clifton, Ireland (located on the west side of the island), and Joe was proud of his Irish heritage. Joe…


Janet L. Avery, 76

Janet L. Avery, 76, of Ellwood City, passed away and into her Savior’s arms on July 1, 2020, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, after a brief illness. She was the daughter of the late Elisha and Effie (Hightower) Shakespeare and was born on June 22, 1944, in Ellwood City, Pa. She is survived by her children, Reverend James Johnson, Ellwood City; Stacy Law (John), Beaver Falls; Jeffrey Johnson, Ellwood City; Bryan Johnson (Michelle), Ellwood City; and Patrick Johnson (Tracy), Ellwood City; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Delores Early (Jerome), Beaver Falls; Debbie Henderson, (Calvin), Ellwood City; Beverly Carlyle…