Obituaries

Margaret M. “Marge” Santillo, 92, of Ellwood City passed away on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 in the Good Samaritan Hospice. Margaret was born on Oct. 29, 1923 in Girard, Ohio to the late Thomas and Concetta Vitacula Testa. She had graduated from the Girard High School with the class 1941. In her youth she had worked at the Five & Ten store in Girard. She later worked at Republic Steel, and then for General Electric for 10 years as an inspector. After moving to Ellwood City she worked at the Ellwood City Knitting Mill for 10 years. She is a…

Terry R. Hissem, 55, of Sechan Drive, Portersville, passed away unexpectedly in his residence on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016. Born in Greensburg on Nov. 28, 1960, Terry was the son of the late Robert and Della Laird Hissem. He was a 1979 graduate of Lincoln High School in Ellwood City. Terry was a sports fanatic and he enjoyed bowling and golfing. Terry is survived by his fiancee, Monika Seegler, at home, a brother, Douglas Hissem and his fiancee, Mary Jo Weir, of Portersville, a niece, Sonya (Scott) Rau of Buckeye, Ariz., and a nephew, Schuyler Hissem of New Castle. Terry…

Bertha J. “Birdie” Hawrylak, 85, formerly of Ellwood City passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in the Good Samaritan Hospice. Bertha was born on June 9, 1930 in Ellwood City to the late Alexander and Verna A. Onada Pavlin. She graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1948. Birdie had worked at Loccisano’s Grocery Store as a cashier in her youth, and later as a secretary for several years. She had belonged to the St. Agatha Catholic Church Christian Mothers, and served on the St. Agatha Church Bazaar Committee for many years. Her main joy was being…

Elsie H. Sommer Forsyth, 94, formerly of Ellwood City passed away on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016 at her home surrounded by her family. Elsie was born on June 19, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late John and Mary Binder Sommer. She is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1939, and the Bethel Lutheran Church in Glenshaw. Elsie had worked at the Ellwood City Water Co. for several years as a clerk and later at the Ellwood Federal Savings & Loan as a teller. She enjoyed crocheting and needlepoint. She leaves her beloved sons, David Forsyth of…

Glenda K. Nicklas, 65, of Short St, Ellwood City died Monday, Feb. 22 at the Ellwood City Hospital following a 30 year courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Born April 25, 1950 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late Curtis Glenn Brown and Elva Vogler Brown of Ellwood City, formerly of Castlewood. Glenda graduated from Shenango High School in 1968. She was the manager at T&M True Value Hardware Store in Ellwood for many years. She was an active member of the Lillyville Church of God. She will be remembered for her hand made greeting cards commemorating her…

Benjamin R. Pellicano, 79, of Ellwood City, passed away peacefully into God’s hands on Sunday, Feb. 21 2016 at St. Johns Specialty Care Center in Mars, Pa. He was born in Ellwood City on Nov. 3, 1936 to the late Rev. Salvatore Pellicano, Sr. and the late Stella Santangelo Pellicano. Ben graduated in 1954 from Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, and later King’s College in New York. He served in the US Army from 1959-1965. He was employed until his retirement, as a systems analyst at PPG Industries in Pittsburgh. Ben lived his life for his God and his…

Frank Frederick, Jr., 73, of Perry Twp. passed away on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016 in the VNA Hospice. Mr. Frederick was born on Feb. 8, 1943 in Sewickley, Pa. to the late Frank and Dolores Holman Frederick, Sr. Frank enlisted with the U.S. Army on April 12, 1965 and served until his discharge on April 11, 1971. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Parachute Badge, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Frank worked as a Chrysler-Dodge Master Technician for 40 years. He retired in 2006 from Ellwood City Motor’s. He is a…