Obituaries

Richard “Zuba” McCormick, 65

Richard “Zuba” Lee McCormick, 65, of Ellwood City, PA passed away unexpectantly, on September 28, 2020, at his home. He was the son of Gail McCormick and the late William McCormick and was born January 6, 1955 in Ellwood City, PA. He is survived by his mother; Gail McCormick of Ellwood City, PA, Daughter; Heather Rayner and her husband, Tim of Edinburgh, PA, sister; Cindi (Butch) Baldwin of New Castle, PA; Terri McCormick of Ellwood City, PA, Zuba’s close friend Mary Kelly of Ellport PA; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. Rick was a 1972 graduate…


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Robert H. Lauten, 87

Robert H. Lauten, 87, of Fombell, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2020 at UPMC Passavant McCandless. Born in Zelienople on November 1, 1932, Robert was the son of the late George and Esther Rape Lauten.  He married the former Evelyn Dawson on March 23, 1956.  He and Evelyn owned and operated Lauten’s Dairy Farm in Fombell. In addition to his wife, Evelyn, Robert is survived by his children, Burt (Janet) Lauten, Sr., of Ellwood City, Lynn Lippert of Ellwood City, Diane Durnell of Evans City, Kenneth (Brenda) Lauten of Fombell, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two sisters, Ruth Thoma…


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Ronald Nicholas LaCava, 76

Mr. Ronald Nicholas LaCava, 76, of Franklin Township passed away on Friday, September 25, 2020 following an automobile accident. Ronald was born on March 4, 1944 in Ellwood City to the late Nicholas and Elizabeth M. (Viccari) LaCava. He graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1962. After high school, Ron worked at the Babcock and Wilcox Steel Mill in Koppel as a mill write until it closed. After that he attended trucking school, and began a career as an over-the-road truck driver. Ronald was the owner and operator of Cully’s Restaurant in Ellport for 4 years, the…


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Lawrence Kadunce, 71

Lawrence Kadunce, 71, of Ellwood City, passed away at his residence on Friday, September 25, 2020 surrounded by his family. Born in New Castle, PA on June 1, 1949 Lawrence was the son of the late Maximilian and Sophia Graliski Kadunce.  A Veteran of the US Air force, Lawrence served in Vietnam.  Lawrence was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler fan.  His family was the most important thing in his life, he taught his children how to hunt, fish and how to just have fun together.  A wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he will be deeply missed by those who knew…


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Frank A. Schaffer, 51

Frank A. Schaffer, 51, of New Galilee passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Frank was born on August 4, 1969 in Ellwood City to Frank A. Schaffer, Sr. and the late Fawnia (Eagan) Schaffer. He had attended Lincoln High School. Frank had worked for FCIS as a lineman and most recently was preparing to go and work with hurricane relief efforts in recent storm struck areas. Frank was a Harley Davidson enthusiast, and enjoyed working on cars, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by his father and step-mother,…


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Emilia Kardasz Carcaise, 90

Emilia Kardasz Carcaise, 90, of Ellwood City, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2020 at the Lutheran Senior Life Passavant Community in Zelienople, PA. Born in Freedom, PA on May 15, 1930, Emilia was the daughter of the late Peter and Pazia Fedyn Kardasz.  Upon graduation from Freedom High School and later Duff’s Business College in Pittsburgh, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked as an administrative assistant for the Secretary of State.  Emilia was a charter member of the Ellwood City Lioness Club and was a member of Holy Redeemer Parish.   Emilia married Dr. Michael A. Carcaise on…


Helen Louise Dripps, 96

Helen Louise Dripps, 96, joined her Savior on September 22, 2020. Helen had spent the last six months of her life at Locust Grove Retirement Village, Mifflin, PA. Helen was born in Wampum, PA on November 12, 1923 to William Frederick Galbreath and Alice May (Mollenkopf) Galbreath. Her children fondly remember having much fun together as a family. She would resist playing fox’n geese in the snow and then finally relenting when everyone begged for her presence. We enjoyed long games of Monopoly and hot cups of cocoa with toast when weather was too cold to go outside. In the…


Kenneth E. Burns Jr, 71

Kenneth E. Burns Jr., 71, of Franklin Township, passed away Monday, September 21, 2020 at Heritage Valley in Beaver. Born September 24, 1948 in Ellwood City, PA, he was the son of the late Kenneth E. Burns Sr. and Helen McKinney Burns, she survives. He was married to Peggy Heyslerman Burns for 51 years. Ken was a graduate of Lincoln High School in 1966. He was employed at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, where he was a computer network engineer. He was a past president and treasure of the Franklin Township Baseball Association and the Ellwood City Baseball Federation. He…


James “Jim” McKeough, 61

James Edwin McKeough “Jim”, 61, of Ellwood City, PA, passed away on Friday, September 18, 2020, at his home. He was the son of the late Thomas and Nancy (Koch) McKeough and was born April 2, 1959, Ellwood City, PA. He is survived by his wife: Haeng (Yeo) McKeough, Son; Thomas A. McKeough of Ellwood City; sister; Linda Dallies and her husband William of Ellwood City, brother; David McKeough and his wife Lisa of South Carolina; sister-in-law Jana McKeough and his nieces; Kayla Matsook and her husband Nicholas, Kristin Custer and Ashley Freed. Kristin Custer,  Ashley Freed. Jim was a…


Henry J. Rafacz, 90

Henry J. Rafacz, 90, of Wampum passed away Friday, September 18, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Born July 10, 1930 in Fallentimber, PA, he was the son of the late John and Josephine Gaul Rafacz . He was married to Bessie Elizabeth Stiles Rafacz for 66 years when she passed away August 31, 2020. Henry retired from Babcock and Wilcox Hot Finish in Beaver Falls following 33 years of service. He was an active member of the former St. Monica’s and Queen of Heaven Parish in Wampum. He was a member of the Holy Name Society…