Obituaries

Dec 17, 2023

Joanne Michaelene Giardina, 89, of Hermitage, passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023, in St. John XXIII Home.

Mrs. Giardina was born on May 8, 1934, in Farrell, a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Necaster) Mastrian. A lifelong area resident, she was a 1952 graduate of Farrell High School.

Joanne was the manager...

Dec 16, 2023

Angela K. Weller, 83, of Gibsonia, formerly a longtime resident of Hermitage, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, December 16, 2023, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.

Mrs. Weller was born November 24, 1940, in Ellwood City, PA, a daughter of the late Frank and Kate (Herman) Calandriello, and graduated from Ellwood City Lincoln High School in 1958....

Dec 16, 2023

Karen A. Kiester, 66, of Sharon passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, December 16, 2023, in Sharon Regional Medical Center.

Karen was born January 11, 1957, in Sharon, a daughter of Philip and Edna Mae (Strauss) Schmidt, and graduated from Sharon High School in 1975.

Primarily a homemaker, she had worked at Roemer Industries, Masury, OH,...

Dec 16, 2023

Rose Margaret "Peg" Cione (Swartz), of Hermitage, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 16, 2023. She was 88.

Born on August 28, 1935, Peg was the youngest child of Orlo and Kathryn Swartz. She was a graduate of Sharon High School and proudly performed as the head majorette in the marching band.

During...

Dec 15, 2023

Michael W. Santoro, 33, of Hermitage passed away late Friday evening, December 15, 2023, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.

Michael was born September 10, 1990, in Pittsburgh, a son of Michael J. and Carrie Jo (Smith) Santoro. A 2009 graduate of Grove City High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in public relations and communication from...

Dec 14, 2023

Margaret E. Owens, 74, of Farrell passed away late Thursday evening, December 14, 2023, in her home.

Ms. Owens was born February 3, 1949, in Meadville, PA, a daughter of the late Roger and Sophia (Klein) Owens.

For many years, Margaret worked as an in-home caretaker for Caregivers Plus in Hermitage.

Margaret was...

Dec 13, 2023

Marianne Theresa Frislid, 74, of South Pymatuning Twp., passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in UPMC Horizon Hospital, Farrell.

Mrs. Frislid was born on December 3, 1949, a daughter of the late Valentine and Lorraine (Titus) Fumich. She was a graduate of Andress High School in El Paso, TX.

A devoted homemaker, Marianne also...

Dec 13, 2023

Rosemary "Dolly" McCarl, 76, of Masury, OH, passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in UPMC Jameson Hospital.

Mrs. McCarl was born on March 30, 1947, in Sharon, a daughter of the late Boleslaw "Bill" and Rose (Sandrovich) Bondarenko. She was a 1965 graduate of Brookfield High School.

She worked as a clerk for the U.S.P.S....

Dec 13, 2023

Ivan Podgorscak, 85, of North Beaver Twp. passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, December 13, 2023, in his home, following a long battle with dementia.

Mr. Podgorscak was born May 22, 1938, in Yugoslavia, now Croatia, the sixth child of Josef and Anka (Relich) Podgorscak. While in school, he learned to play chess and became quite proficient,...

Dec 12, 2023

James "Jim" C. Kerins, 76, of Hermitage, PA, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

Mr. Kerins was born on February 20, 1947, in Sharon, a son of the late Daniel Reinsel Kerins and Mary Henighan Kerins. He was a 1965 graduate of Sharon High School and attended Penn State University. An honorable veteran, he proudly...

Dec 12, 2023

Darla A. Purvis, 61, of New Castle passed away with her children by her side Tuesday evening, December 12, 2023, following a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Darla was born November 14, 1962, in Pittsburgh, PA a daughter of the late Bernice Sabol. A 1981 graduate of Seneca Valley High School, she also graduated from the Sewickley...

Dec 12, 2023

Ernest T. "Ernie" Laslow passed away with his loving family by his side on December 12, 2023, just shy of his 102nd birthday.  Mr. Laslow was born on December 29, 1921, in Leechburg, PA, the sixth of eleven children to Andrew and Julia (Soltesz) Laslow.

A 1940 graduate of Farrell High School, Ernest worked at the former...

Dec 11, 2023

Gerald Franklin "Jerry" Shaffer, 65, formerly a longtime resident of Hermitage passed away unexpectedly of natural causes early Monday morning, December 11, 2023, at his home in Chambersburg, PA.

Mr. Shaffer was born July 8, 1958, in Sharon, a son of the late Deane and Jacqueline (Hutchinson) Shaffer and was a 1976 graduate of Hickory High School...

Dec 10, 2023

Gary L. "Mac" McElhaney, 71, of Pulaski, passed away with his wife and family at his side Sunday evening, December 10, 2023, at his home.

Gary was born August 23, 1952, in Sharon, a son of the late Wade and Nellie (Dyda) McElhaney, and graduated from West Middlesex High School in 1970.

For most of...

Dec 8, 2023

Grace Helen Nichols, 93, of Hermitage, heard the words "Well done my good and faithful servant" as she entered heaven and into the arms of her beloved John, on Friday, December 8, 2023, surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Nichols was born on May 5, 1930, in Snydersburg, PA, the youngest child of the late John and Emma...

Dec 8, 2023

Pamela Jean Wimer, 56, of Lackawannock Twp., passed away suddenly of Friday, December 8, 2023, in UPMC Horizon Hospital, Farrell.

Mrs. Wimer was born on September 24, 1967, in Sharon, a daughter of the late Vincent and Betty (Leamer) Adams. She was a 1986 graduate of West Middlesex High School and attended Penn State University, Shenango Campus....

Dec 8, 2023

Carrie Surles, 53, of Sharon, passed away on Friday evening, December 8, 2023, in UPMC Horizon-Shenango Valley Hospital, Farrell.

Ms. Surles was born on August 29, 1970, in Sharon, a daughter of James Surles and Linda (Fast) Bennardo.  She graduated from Sharon High School and attended Penn State University and Youngstown State University.

Carrie was...

Dec 6, 2023

His life was devoted to giving rather than receiving hence, to pay tribute to a man who has always thought of others before himself.

John "Jocko" Felix of New Castle, PA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, following an extended illness. John was born on March 5, 1946, in New Castle, PA, a son of...

Dec 6, 2023

Howard J. Ferringer, 69, of Hermitage, passed away Wednesday morning, December 6, 2023, in Warren, OH, surrounded by family.

Mr. Ferringer was born on May 23, 1954, in Sharon, a son of the late Howard and Norma (Hoyney) Ferringer.  He was a 1972 graduate of Hubbard High School and studied electronics at ATTES Technical School.

...

Dec 5, 2023

Marlene Mataruski, 75, of Brookfield, OH, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2023, in the Hospice of the Valley, Hospice House, Poland, OH.

Ms. Mataruski was born on August 8, 1948, in Farrell, a daughter of the late John and Martha (Raykovich) Mataruski. She was a 1966 graduate of Farrell High School and became a registered nurse in...