Obituaries

Lisa S. Koch-Vanassa, 59

Lisa S. Koch-Vanassa, 59, of Ellwood City passed away on Thursday, August 24th, 2023 at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Lisa was born on December 31st, 1963 in Ellwood City to the late Melvin G. and Lena (Rosellini) Koch. She was baptized at the former St. Agatha Roman Catholic Church. Lisa is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1982 and earned a certificate in Business Administration from Beaver County Community College in 1985. She enjoyed watching movies, shopping, dancing, eating out at various restaurants with her family, and traveling to Florida with her sister Judy. She…


Peter P. Pavlovic, 85

Mr. Peter P. Pavlovic, 85, of Ellwood City passed away on August 24th, 2023 at the UPMC Montefiore Hospital. Peter was born on September 1st, 1937 to the late Milan and Dorothy (Dugan) Pavlovic. He graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1955. A prize winning photographer, Peter was the head photographer from the News Tribune in Beaver Falls, along with side work for various other local newspapers. He photographed crime scenes, fires, seven presidents, Dr. Marin Luther King Jr., Woodstock, Pittsburgh sport teams, and much more. A few of his photos were eventually published in LIFE Magazine….


Phyllis Vetica, 89

Mrs. Phyllis Vetica of Ellwood City passed away on Monday, August 21st, 2023 at her residence. Mrs. Vetica was born on June 16th, 1934 in Ellwood City to the late Salvatore and Elizabeth (Perry) Galati. Phyllis was a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1952, and graduated from Garfield Business Institute. She worked at Edelman’s Shoe Store in Ellwood City and at Babcock and Wilcox Steel Mill in the Personnel Department. She is a member of the Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer Church and Christian Mothers. She enjoyed all sports, especially Notre Dame. She dedicated herself to raising…


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Wendy L. Hienz, 56

Wendy L. Hienz, 56, of Ellport passed away Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at PAM Unit at Heritage Valley Hospital following a short courageous battle with cancer. Born July 31, 1967 in New Castle, she was the daughter of the late John “Jack” and Janice M. Martin Hienz. Wendy had graduated from Riverside in 1985 and then from Carlow where she earned her BSN. She started her R.N. career first working at West Penn Hospital then at the Ellwood City Hospital, and currently in the Heart and Vascular Unit at Heritage Valley. She was a member of the First United Methodist…


Stephen E. “Steve” Pulleo, 74

Mr. Stephen E. “Steve” Pulleo, 74, of Ellwood City passed away on Saturday, August 19th, 2023 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Mr. Pulleo was born in Koppel on March 6th, 1949 the son of the late Joseph and Lucille (Cearfoss) Pulleo. Steve is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1967. He had worked at the Babcock & Wilcox Steel Mill, Giant Eagle in produce department, and was the owner and operator of Steve & Sons Tackle Shop in Ellwood City. An outdoorsman, Steve enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting and gardening. He loved spending time with his children…


Karl R. Dicks, 63

Karl R. Dicks, 63, of Oil City passed away Monday, August 21, 2023 at his mother’s residence in Ellwood City following a short battle with cancer. Born November 13, 1959 in Grove City, he was the son of the late Raymond W. and Martha Griffin Dicks. Karl had graduated from Lawrence County Vo-Tech in 1977. For many years, he worked as a fabricator for Clarion Bath Ware. He was an avid Elvis fan and enjoyed singing, riding horses, and working on cars. Survivors include his mother, Martha; forever friend Deb Rhoades; daughter, Sherrie (Jason) Schliffka of Fombell; son, Raymond W….


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Angelo R. Pisano, 67

Angelo R. Pisano, 67, of Ellwood City, passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at UPMC Jameson in New Castle. Born in Elwood City on February 13, 1956, Angelo was the son of the late William and Rose Zaffino Pisano.  He retired from MedArt in November of 2021 where he worked as the head of maintenance.  He was Catholic by Faith and enjoyed spending time at his camp, cooking and especially spending time with his son, grandsons and friends making Italian meats. Angelo is survived by his wife, the former Judy Marburger, whom he married on May 24, 1997, two…


Perry W. Phillippi, 89

Perry William Phillippi, 89, a lifelong resident of Ellwood City passed away Saturday, August 19, 2023 at his residence. Born in Ellwood City on March 24, 1934, he was the son of the late William Perry and Minnie Belle Snyder Phillippi. Perry attended Lincoln High School. He had worked 43 years for the Geo. W. Blank Company as a truck driver. Perry formerly attended Christ Presbyterian Church, and most recently listened to church on Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church’s Facebook service. Survivors include his beloved wife of 68 years as they were married on August 28, 1954, Betty Louise Alderman Phillippi;…


Debra A. “Debbie” Piper, 67

Debra A. “Debbie” Piper, 67, of Ellwood City, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, August 19, 2023. She was the daughter of the late John and Myrtle (Main) Hardy and Dale Agnew and she was born December 22, 1955 in Ellwood City She is survived by her husband of 50 years, George Piper, daughters; Jennifer Piper of Ellwood City, Heather Piper of Ellwood City, one granddaughter; Cheyenne Piper of New York City, her siblings; Diane Lutz of Ellwood City, Darlene McQuiston of Fombell, Denny Agnew and his wife Kathy of Ellwood City, Dawna Fox and her husband…


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Sara (Hartung) Stone, 71

Mrs. Sara (Hartung) Stone, 71, of Gibsonia passed away on Thursday, August 17th, 2023 at Concordia at Rebecca Residence in Allison Park. Mrs. Stone was born in Pittsburgh on December 18th, 1951 to the late Joseph and Irma (DuPell) Hartung. Sara graduated from Domenec High School with the class of 1969 and from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Arts in 1973. She also earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy in 1994 also from the University of Pittsburgh. Sara had worked at St. Claire Hospital and later at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless…