Obituaries

Marie Ella Hart, 90, of Fombell and Ellwood City went to rest peacefully in the arms of God on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 at the Evergreen Nursing Center in Harmony after a brief stay. Prior to her stay at Evergreen, she was a resident of Northview Estates in Ellwood City. Born on Feb., 23, 1925, Marie was the oldest child of George H. and Esther (Rape) Lauten of Fombell. On March 1, 1944 she married Emerson J. Hart of Fombell, a farmer who had courted her on horseback. Marie was a hard working farm wife who raised…

Floyd L. Mayberry, 74, of Portersville Rd., Ellport passed away Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 at UPMC Passavant Hospital following a lengthy illness. Born Nov. 6, 1940 in Ellwood City,he was the son of the late Floyd E. and Betty Russell Mayberry. He was married for 56 years to Judith A. Grady Mayberry as they were married Sept. 23, 1959. She survives. Floyd was a lifelong mechanic. He worked at many local companies including 27 years at Halstead Industries, three years at SSD Distribution, three years at Trinity Industries and eight years at BNZ Materials. He also worked at Timpano Motors…

Valerie R. Shablesky, 56, of Summit Ave., Ellwood City passed away Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 at her residence following a two year illness. Born April 17, 1959 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late Raymond “Corky” and Janna Shaffer Hulick. She was married for 12 years to Mark Shablesky who survives. Val graduated from Riverside High School. She worked at Co Part as a dispatcher for 15 years. Val enjoyed flower gardening, relaxing at the beach, and sitting outside on her back porch. She was a Pittsburgh Pirate and Steeler fan. Her most cherished time was spent…

Jerome J. “Jerry” Cowan, 81, of Slippery Rock Twp. passed away on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 in the Carriage Court assisted living facility. Mr. Cowan was born on April 20, 1934 in Ellwood City to the late Wilbert and Fay G. Gallaher Cowan. He is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1952, where he had played football and baseball. Mr. Cowan enlisted with the U.S. Air Force on Feb. 24, 1954 and served with the 497th Recon Tech Squadron until his discharge on Oct. 8, 1957. He had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good…

Joseph B. Bellissimo, Sr., 89, of Hershey, Pa., formerly of Ellwood City and Pittsburgh, died on Sept. 25, 2015. Born July 17, 1926 in Derry, Pa., he was the son of the late Vincenzo and Antoinette Cosentino Bellissimo. Mr. Bellissimo graduated in 1944 from Lincoln High School, Ellwood City and attended music schools in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Julliard Conservatory of Music in New York City. He was a member of the French horn section of the West point Army Orchestra. He played as a member of the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra and principle French horn with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra….

Paul H. Schlemmer, 70, of Hickernell Road, Perry Twp. passed away Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford following a short illness. Born Feb. 22, 1945 in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late Earl Emery and Mary Melzina Smith Schlemmer. He celebrated 50 years of marriage to Violet Jean Schaffer Schlemmer as they were married on May 28, 1965. She survives. Paul was a lifelong service and delivery man before he started his own business in 1996, Superior Water and Salt Delivery. He was a Perry Township Supervisor, served on the Board of…