Obituaries

Richard A. “Arch” Geer, 90, of Perry Twp., Portersville passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 3, 2016 at the Ellwood City Hospital. Born Sept. 14, 1925 in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late David and Emily Maloney Geer. He was married for 64 years to Patricia Moser Geer who survives. Richard worked at the Aetna Standard until its closure. He was a member of the First Church of God. Arch served in the Navy from 1943-1946 in the South Pacific. He was a member of the F& AM Masonic Lodge # 599 in Ellwood City. An outdoorsman, Arch enjoying…

Mary Kathryn Fosnot, 97, of Wampum passed away March 31, 2016 at Elk Haven Nursing Home in St. Marys, Pa. She is no longer wondering why she is still here on Earth as she is now with her Lord and Savior Jesus in Heaven. Mary was born in Chewton on May 2, 1918 to the late Charles and Essie Mayberry Tillia. She was married for 49 years to Russell S. Fosnot who passed away June 25, 1987. She was an active member of the Wampum United Methodist Church. She enjoyed square dancing. She is survived by a brother, Frank Tillia…

Donald “Dike” Perry, 82, of Rustic Park Rd., Ellwood City (North Sewickley Twp.) passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at his residence. Born January 4, 1934 in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late Joseph and Pauline Minnocci Perry. He was married for 52 years to Mary Ann Leopardo Perry who survives. Dike retired as a millwright supervisor from Babcock and Wilcox in 1982. He graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1953. He was a member of Holy Redeemer Church and a Veteran of the US Army. An avid golfer, Dike was a member of…

Mary M. DeBlaso, 90 of Ellwood City passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 in her residence with her loving family at her bedside. Mary was born on Dec. 5, 1925 in Ellwood City to the late Salvadore and Sarah Casusa LaPenta I. She is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1943. Mary worked for many years at the Ellwood City Knitting Mill as a seamstress. She is a member of the Holy Redeemer Parish and the Christian Mothers of the Holy Redeemer Parish. Mary also belonged to the Corona D’Italia Lodge #807, the Golden Agers, and…

Jerome “Jerry” A. Ambrose, 83, of Paden Road, North Beaver Twp. passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Jameson Memorial Hospital. Born Nov. 14, 1932 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., he was the son of the late Henry R. and Beatrice Elizabeth Carkhuff Ambrose. He was married for 63 years to Delores “Dolly” McConnell Ambrose as they were married December 5, 1952. She survives. Jerome retired from Wampum Hardware. He was a member and former Trustee at the Moravia Presbyterian Church. Jerome was an avid hunter and fisherman. His most cherished time was spent with his family, especially his grandchildren. In addition…

Ann L. Hackett, 93, formerly of Wampum passed away Monday, March 28, 2016 at Rhodes Estates in New Castle following an extended illness. Born March 13, 1923 in Wampum, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Ethel Binger Ferrucci. She was married for 50 years to James W. Hackett Sr. who passed away May 19, 1996. Ann was a member of Holy Redeemer Parish. She was a sports enthusiast, especially enjoyed following Notre Dame. Survivors include two sons, James W. (Joyce) Hackett Jr. and Randy (Stacie) Hackett, and two grandchildren, James M. Hackett and Taylor J . Hackett,…

Warren Austin Michaels, 91, of Marion Township, Ellwood City, passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon, March 27, 2016 in Golden Hill Nursing Home in New Castle following a brief illness. He was born in Ellwood City on July 6, 1924 to the late Lewis Michaels and the late Cora Miller Michaels. He graduated from Lincoln High School in the class of 1943 and served in the U.S. Navy in WWII. He married his wife of over 65 years, Veda Mae Snyder Michaels, on Dec. 8, 1950, who survives. Warren worked as a saw operator and machinist at the Ellwood City…

Amelia “Amy” Oravitz, 61, of Schill Manor in Ellwood City, formerly of Monaca, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 3:25 p.m. in UPMC Mercy Hospital. Born in Ellwood City on Sept. 7, 1954, Amy was the daughter of the late Nick and Janice Barber Butchelle. Amy was a member of Holy Redeemer Parish and former member of St. John the Baptist Church in Monaca. A 1972 graduate of Lincoln High School, Amy enjoyed playing bingo but mostly enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. Amy is survived by three children, Jeff and Jamie Oravitz of Pittsburgh, Michelle and Steve Zeppelin…

Pauline Palatka, 89, of Ellwood City passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 in the Ellwood City Hospital. Pauline was born on Sept. 15, 1926 in Ellwood City to the late Josef and Susanna Fletcher Savu. She is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1944. For several years, Pauline worked as a telephone operator for the Bell Telephone Company in Ellwood City. She later worked at Edelman’s Shoe Store, and then at Palatka Fine Shoes. She is also a member of the Bell Memorial Church, and enjoyed going to Challenges. She is survived her son, Steven C….

Robert R. McGrady, 80, of North Sewickley Twp., passed away on Friday, March 18, 2016 in his home surrounded by his family. Robert was born on March 28, 1935 in Columbia, S.C. to the late Matthew M. McGrady and Leila Belle Coulter McGrady. Bob earned his GED in 1968 from Riverside High School and attended the Community College of Beaver County. He retired after 30 years service from Babcock and Wilcox in Koppel where he worked as a certified roll turner, crane operator, head timekeeper and bar mill recorder. Bob was also a professional painter at E.I. DuPont in Camden,…