All Obituaries

Joseph W. Tommaney, age 88, of Mars, formerly of Middlesex Twp., passed away on Wednesday afternoon, March 13, 2019 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born on December 9, 1930 in Albany, N.Y., he was the son of the late Joseph F. and Mary Margaret McCarroll Tommaney. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert Tommaney. Joe was a research metallurgist for Allegheny Ludlum, where he held sixteen patents relating to the steel making process. He was a member of St. Kilian...

Doris J. Shields, age 93, of Mars, formerly of Wilkinsburg, passed away on Monday afternoon, March 11, 2019 at Family Hospice Canterbury Place in Pittsburgh. Born in San Francisco, CA on March 22, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Erick K. and Alma Rosengren Johanson. Doris had been an administrative secretary for the Ellis School. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Rodger Shields. Surviving are a son, Bennette Dixon (Carol) of Roanoke, VA., her step-daughters, Arlene...

Harry J. Paraska, age 77, of Mars, passed away on Thursday morning, March 7, 2019 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born in Ancon (the Panama Canal Zone) on June 20, 1941, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Martha Lewis Paraska. Harry was a Civil Engineer for P.D.M. in Pittsburgh and most recently worked for II-VI, Inc. in Saxonburg. He was a member of the Gospel Fellowship Church in Middlesex Twp.. He was the Pennsylvania State Chaplain for the Gideons International...

Randall J. “Randy” Killeen, Age 57, of Wexford, passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2019 in Charleston, SC after his courageous battle with cancer. Beloved husband of 33 years to Susan (Harrington), devoted father of daughter Kristen (Bieri and husband Alex), and sons Brian and Kevin; grandfather of Allison; son of Joan Hoelzle Killeen and the late Lawrence Killeen; brother of Cindy (Waeltermann and husband Dieter) and uncle to their sons Christopher and Alex; son-in-law of...

Jane Dumar, age 96, of Cranberry Twp., passed away on Wednesday morning, March 6, 2019, at LAS St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars. Born in Warrendale, PA on April 4, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Lewis C. and Iva M. Seybert Dumar. Jane was an administrative assistant for Commercial Union Insurance, now CGI. She was a member of the North Hills Alliance Church and the Mellwood Chapter 2854 of the A.A.R.P. Aunt of Nancy Hoffman (Ronald) of Wexford, Richard Dumar of Omaha,...

Kenneth W. Rowe, age 73, of Ross Twp., formerly of Harrisburg, passed away on Tuesday morning, February 26, 2019 at Manor Care in Greentree. Born in Harrisburg, PA on July 26, 1945, he was the son of the late John and Mary Weaver Rowe. Ken was a warehouse worker for New Cumberland Army Depot. He had served in the United States Air Force. Surviving are a daughter, Barbara Rooker (Brian) of Ross Twp., two grandchildren, Christopher and Jaime and a brother, John Rowe in Harrisburg. He was...

William M. “Bill” Hughan, age 68, of Valencia, Middlesex Twp., PA, passed away on Saturday morning, February 23, 2019 at his home. Born in New Kensington, PA on December 10, 1950, he was the son of the late Paul and Eula McCutcheon Hughan. Bill had been a steelworker at Allegheny Ludlum Steel in Vandergrift. He was a member of King’s Coffee Club, enjoying coffee with his friends and enjoyed hunting, fishing, R.V. camping and traveling. Surviving are his wife, Leslie...

Margaret Louise Fitch, age 95, of Mars, formerly of Duxbury, MA, passed away on Wednesday morning, February 20, 2019 at Concordia of Cranberry. Born in Chicora, PA on December 1, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Dory Otis and Rose Burns Holben. Louise had been a retailer of fine women’s clothing and bridal wear.  Louise was an expert seamstress and enjoyed sewing. While living here, she attended St. Kilian Church. Wife of the late Arthur Lloyd Fitch, who died on October...

Bonnie Rae Chappel, age 63, of Mars, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019, at her home of natural causes. Born in Butler, PA on March 8, 1955, she was the daughter of the late George and Beulah Purvis Barber. Bonnie was an Administrative Assistant for Middlesex Twp. She also had belonged to the Glade Run Lake Conservancy and the Mars Alliance Church, now LifePointe Alliance Church. Surviving are her sons, Kyle Chappel and his wife, Mariana of Bellevue, PA and...

George T. Mastovich, age 73, of Mars, passed away on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Butler VNA Inpatient Hospice. Born on March 3, 1945, in Hobbs, New Mexico, he was the son of the late Samuel and Pearl Kovalchik Mastovich. George proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1967. He worked for North Pittsburgh Telephone Co. and was a member of several telephone organizations over the years. He was a member of Bakerstown Presbyterian Church. George enjoyed golfing and loved...

Dolores V. Steck, age 77, of Middlesex Twp., passed away on Friday morning, February 15, 2019 at the Butler VNA Inpatient Hospice with her family by her side. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on September 19, 1941, she was the daughter of the late James and Sue Pittore Rosso. Dolores had been a secretary for St. Barnabas in Gibsonia and was a member of Holy Sepulcher Church in Glade Mills. Surviving are a daughter, Kathleen “Kathy” Keown and her husband, Thomas of Renfrew, a son,...

Dorothy C. Stafford, age 93, of Mars, formerly of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 4, 2019 at Valencia Woods. Born on January 25, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Howard and Iva Cooper. Dorothy was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI, and moved to Marathon Key, FL and then St. Augustine, FL, before moving to Mars, PA twelve years ago. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and playing bridge. Dorothy loved people and was always happy spending time with her...

Roseann Yarchak Austin, age 93, of Gibsonia, passed away on Monday morning, February 4, 2019 at Valencia Woods. She was born in Johnstown, PA on April 5, 1925, the daughter of the late John and Rose Yarchak. Roseann had been an executive secretary for Acme Markets in Johnstown.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown and after her husband’s death, she attended St. Kilian Church.  Active in the community, she was a member of the Red Hatters, the...

Thomas D. Kennedy, age 84, of Gibsonia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at his home. Born on August 11, 1934, in Pine Twp., he was the son of the late DeWitt Darwin and Dorothy Forsythe Kennedy. Tom attended Pine Elementary and then graduated from Mars High School. He went on to further his education at Geneva College. During his senior year, he was drafted into the Army as a military policeman. Afterwards, he went back home to work on the farm. In 1968, he started...

Frances Eileen (Dick) Weaver, age 90, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2019 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. She was born Frances B. Farlou on June 18, 1928 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the daughter of Frances M. Farlou, and was adopted at the age of three by Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Dick and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She attended parochial grammar school at St. Laurence O’Toole and St. Mary’s High School, both in Lawrence, and graduated from Edward...

Robert Eugene Plunkard, age 56, of Evans City, passed away on Thursday afternoon, January 17, 2019 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born in Kittanning, PA on September 26, 1962, he was the son of the late Melvin Leroy and Genevieve Geraldine Plunkard, Sr. Bob had worked as a laborer for James Austin Company in Mars for 35 years, retiring in 2016. An avid dirt track racing fan, he went every weekend. Surviving are three sisters, Debra Sue Betts (Michael) of Middlesex Twp.,...

Gerald C. “Jerry” "Doc" Purvis, age 61, of Saxonburg, formerly of Mars, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on Monday morning, January 14, 2019, at his home. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on January 15, 1957, he was the son of the late Darvin Dean and Margaret Fallon Purvis. Jerry was a truck driver for Jay Bird Trucking in Saxonburg. He was a member of St. Kilian Church, a social member of Mars V.F.W. Post 7505 and the Mars V.F.D., now Adams Area Fire...

Virginia S. “Ginny” Bartolac, age 91, of Mars, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2019, at VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on April 26, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Emilie Ziegenhein Smithman. Ginny was a member of Mars United Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her daughter, Gini Lee Bartolac of Ft. Pierce, FL, a grandson, Steven Yeager of Ft. Pierce, FL, and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She is...

H. Robert Kennedy, age 61, of Mars, passed away on Saturday evening, January 5, 2019 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on November 27, 1957, he was the son of Harold Kennedy and the late Maryann Arnold Fetzer. Bob was a truck driver for GM Rentals and Sun Belt Trucking. He was a member of the Mars United Presbyterian Church and was a social member of Mars V.F.W.  He enjoyed riding his Harley and hunting. Loving companion of Nancy Cummings of Mars, father...

William J. Stehle, age 65, of Tidioute, PA, formerly of Mars, passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on July 31, 1953, he is the son of Audrey Eperthener Stehle and the late Herman Stehle. He was a member of St. Kilian Church and was also active in Mars Area Girls Softball, where he had served as president. Surviving are his mother, Audrey Eperthener Stehle of Mt. Washington; his daughters, Rochelle (Thomas) Bender of Fawn Twp. and Melissa (Charles) Petredis of...