Obituaries

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Francis “Fran” LaGrotta, 88

Francis “Fran” LaGrotta, age 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at his residence, surrounded by the love and prayers of his family. Born in Beaver Falls, PA to the late Ned and Rose (Jerome) LaGrotta, Fran graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1950 and served in active duty in the US Army during the Korean War. Fran always said he was born in 1932, but his life didn’t begin until February 4, 1956 when he married the love of his life, the former Loretta DeThomas of Ellwood City, with whom he shared almost 65 years of…


Raymond C. Jackson, 90

Raymond C. Jackson, 90, of Newport Road, Wampum passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loving family following a brief illness. Born January 8, 1930 in New Castle, he was the eldest son of the late Robert B. And Eleanor R. (McKinley) Jackson Sr. He was married to Maryann Zultowski Jackson for 63 years. In addition to his wife, Maryann, survivors include a son, Thomas E Jackson of Wampum; three daughters , Jeanne Pittavino of Cranberry Twp, Janet (John) Emig of Poland, OH, and Peggy (Stephen) Needler of Aledo, TX; a sister, Thelma J. McMillen…


John H. Emerick Jr., 92

John H. “Bud” Emerick Jr., 92, of Ellwood City passed away Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Beaver. Born December 14, 1927 in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late John H. and Ida Rae (Marion) Emerick Sr. Bud graduated from Lincoln High School in 1945. A veteran, he served as a Second Lieutenant with the Combat Engineers during WW II dealing with the reconstruction in Germany. In 1965, Bud founded J&R Emerick Inc. in Ellwood City which provided steel fabrication. He was the superintendent at Ellwood Iron and Wire for many years. Bud enjoyed…


Lorraine M. Yohe, 73

Lorraine M. Yohe, 73, of Ellwood City, PA passed away at Heritage Valley Beaver Medical Center on March 19, 2020.  She was born on December 27, 1946 in New Kensington, PA to the late Calvin and Betty Myers Runyan. She is survived by her two sons, Jim Yohe of Ellwood City and Michael Yohe and his wife Kia of Fombell, PA; along with her grandchildren, Addy Yohe, Eva Yohe, Bryn Yohe, and Aris Yohe of Fombell. Surviving siblings include Barbara Gibbons of Ellwood City, Donna Runyan of Ellwood City, Vernon Runyan of New Castle, PA, Robert Runyan of Ellwood City, and…


Bruce L. Drotleff, Sr., 64

Bruce L. Drotleff Sr., 64, of Slippery Rock Twp. passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at his home from an apparent heart attack. Born February 28, 1956 in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late William and Anna Mae (Householder) Drotleff. He was married to Karen Tanner Drotleff for 18 years as they were married September 15, 2001. She survives. Bruce worked for PA Department of Transportation out of Lawrence County. He was also a self employed farmer. He loved farming, especially making straw, hay and grain and raising chickens. He enjoyed gardening. Bruce also enjoyed…


Nick Ierino, Jr., 83

Mr. Nick Ierino, Jr, 83, of New Castle passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at The Grove at New Wilmington where he has resided for the past ten years. Mr. Ierino was born on June 21, 1936, in Ellwood City to the late Nick and Mary (Torchio) Ierino Sr. He had graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1954. For a period of time, Nick had worked for the Borough of Ellwood City. He was a member of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church while living in Ellwood City and the St. Vitus Catholic…


Elizabeth F. Smith, 84

Elizabeth F. “Betty” Smith, 84, formerly of Fombell, passed away Monday, March 16, 2020 at Passavant Retirement Community following a brief illness. Born November 3, 1935 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late George A. and Margaret F. Nye Bunney Sr. She was married to Leroy E. “Cub” Smith for 52 years when he passed away in 2010. Betty was a 1954 graduate of Lincoln High School. She obtained her LPN from Beaver County Community College where after she began her career at the Ellwood City Hospital until her retirement in 1997. She was a member of…


Sarah “Sally” Magill, 72

Sarah L. “Sally” (Brenner) Magill, age 72, of Ellwood City, PA, was welcomed into the arms of Jesus while surrounded by the love of her husband and son on Sunday morning, March 15, 2020, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. She was born in Sharon, PA on September 26, 1947, daughter of the late Kenneth M., Sr., and M. Kathleen ”Kass” (Stanford) Brenner. Sally graduated from Lincoln High School in the class of 1965. In her teenage years, she enjoyed riding her horse, Champ, with her friends, the “Saddle Tramps,” through the woods of Portersville and the land which…


Elizabeth A. Aaron, 92

Mrs. Elizabeth A. Aaron, 92, of Ellwood City passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at her residence. Mrs. Aaron was born on August 20, 1927, in Sligo, Pa to the late Joh T. and Irene (Eshbaugh) Carberry. She had graduated from high school in Sligo and is a member of the Holy Redeemer Church. She had worked at the McGuire Memorial Home in the kitchen, and the Ellwood City Knitting Mill. Elizabeth enjoyed traveling, bowling, crocheting, and quilting. She is survived by her daughters, Vickie Koach of Fombell and Betsy (Bob) Petti of North Sewickley Twp., her grandchildren, William…


LaVonne McCreary, 85

LaVonne McCreary, 85, of Clearwater, Florida, formerly of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, died Saturday, February 29, 2020, at Largo Medical Center in Largo, Florida. She was the daughter of the late Emile and Margaret “Peg” Mitchell Pelissier and was born July 24, 1934, in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. She is survived by her sons, Norman McCreary of Ellwood City and Mark McCreary and his wife, Laura, of Spain; grandchildren, Maggie Tesone and her husband, Michael, of Ellwood City and Teaghan McCreary of Nashua, New Hampshire; one brother, Lafe Pelissier of Wampum, Pennsylvania; nephews, Lafe Eric Pelissier and his wife, Elaine, of Rochester,…