Archive - Obituary
May 19th, 2013
Norma M. Gallagher, 82, of Benezette, died Friday, May 17, 2013, surrounded by her loving family at Pinecrest Manor in St. Marys.
She was a life-long resident of Benezette, having been born in Benezette on December 16, 1930, to the late Marie M. (O’Brien) and John F. Showers.
She was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Benezette and later a member of St. Joseph Church in Force. She was a graduate of Benezette High School and on September 21, 1948, married Gerald L. Gallagher in Tyler. He preceded her in death on July 29, 1985.
Mary F. Erich, 73, of 200 Elm Road, St. Marys, died on Friday, May 17, 2013 at Christ the King Manor in DuBois following an illness of the past few months.
She was born August 17, 1939 in St. Marys, a daughter of the late Leo J. and Mary Engel Schade.
On August 11, 1962 in St. Mary's Church, she married the late Jerome J. Erich, who preceded her in death on January 12, 2013.
May 17th
Mary S. Butera, 87, of 326 Allenhurst Ave., Ridgway, died, Friday, May 17, 2013, at Elk Regional Health Center.
She was born in Platania, Italy, the daughter of Luigi and Pasqualina Butera, and sister of Frank M. Butera, who preceded her in death.
She was a resident of Ridgway and Erie, and a member of the St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Erie, and St. Leo’s Church in Ridgway.
May 15th
LaVerne C. “Bird Dog” Brennen Sr., 75, of 1026 Windfall Road, St. Marys, died Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at the Pinecrest Manor after a lengthy illness.
He was born June 4, 1937 in St. Marys, son of the late Eugene and Esther Caskey Brennen Sr. On August 26, 1961 in St. Marys, he married Phyllis J. Dinger Thompson, who survives.
May 14th
Betty J. Hritz, 87, of Punxsutawney, died Monday, May 13, 2013.
Born November 3, 1925 in Punxsutawney, she was a daughter of the late Peter and Sophia (Sheofsky) Hritz.
She was a member of the Saint Peter and Paul Byzantine Church in Punxsutawney. She was a member of the church choir.
Ms. Hritz worked for 32 years as the secretary in the business office of the administrators office at Punxsutawney Area High School from 1976 until her retirement in 2008. Her prior employment included Sylvania, Jones Furniture and Wolf's Furniture.
Charles (Charlie) Victor Erickson, 88, of Main Street, Brockway, died on May 13, 2013 at Christ the King Manor in DuBois.
Born August 11, 1924, in Penfield, he was the son of the late Charles V. and Anna Hackett Erickson.
On June 19, 1954 in Tyler Charlie married Mrs. Frances (Pat) Erickson. She survives.
May 13th
Gary L. Ginther, 76, of 1037 Theresia Street, St. Marys, died Sunday, May 12, 2013, at his home after a brief illness.
He was born August 29, 1936 in St. Marys, son of the late LeRoy and Gertrude Vollmer Ginther. On November 7, 1981 in the St. Mary’s Church, he married Aurelia H. Halloran, who survives.
Mr. Ginther was a lifelong resident of the area and attended St. Marys Schools. He was a retired employee of Grotzinger Equipment Company. He was a member of the St. Mary’s Church. He enjoyed hunting, gardening, canning, and spending time with his family, grandchildren, and nephews.
May 9th
Willard J. "Willy" Kennedy, Jr., 57, of Jacksonville, N.C and formerly of Johnsonburg, died on May 6, 2013 due to an automobile accident.
He was born on Aug. 12, 1955 in Ridgway, the son of Willard J. "Buster" Kennedy, Sr. and Constance A. (Simchick) Kennedy.
Willy had been a life long resident of Johnsonburg until the last few years in which he had resided in North Carolina. A 1974 graduate of Johnsonburg Area High School, he was also a member of the Holy Rosary Church in Johnsonburg. He was a proud member of AA and NA for more than 20 years.
May 8th
Irene A. O'Rourke, 86, of 804 Rasselas Road, Wilcox, died on the morning of January 20, 2013, at Elk Haven Nursing Home in St. Marys following a lengthy illness.
She was born March 6, 1926 in Wilcox, daughter of the late Edward and Alice Retzer Powell.
On June 14, 1945 in St. Ann's Church in Wilcox she married Calvin S. O'Rourke, and he survives.
She resided in Wilcox all her life and graduated from Wilcox High School in 1944. She was a member of St. Ann's Church, Wilcox. She enjoyed cooking and baking. Along with her husband, they are the owners of the "Ponderosa" in Wilcox.
May 6th
Mary Rose Maletto, 96, 203 East Ave., Johnsonburg, died Sunday evening, May 5, 2013, at The Lutheran Home at Kane.
She was born March 26, 1916, in Johnsonburg, daughter of the late Pasquale Nocito and Mariannina Perrone Nocito Condina.
On June 17, 1939, in Holy Rosary Church, she married Alfred J. Maletto Jr. who preceded her in death on June 7, 2010.
Mary helped her mom raise her younger brother and sisters, and worked at the shirt factory in Kane (staying with family friends). She also worked at the JRC Radio Tube Factory in Johnsonburg, was a cook and homemaker for the Keenan family.
