Category: Obituaries

Joseph W. Bozek, Sr. (1931-2026)

Joseph W. Bozek, Sr., 94, of Center Township, passed away on May 14th, 2026, at Heritage Valley Beaver. He was born in Conway on May 17th, 1931, a son of the late Joseph F. and Jennie Yaworski Bozek. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia P. Bloom Bozek, two grandsons, Joseph T. “Joey” Bozek and Jodi Bozek, two brothers, Frank and Edward Bozek and six sisters: Josephine, Dorothy, Elanor, Louise, Mary Ann, and Stella. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Joseph W. Jr. and Cindy Bozek, of Rochester Township, four daughters and three sons-in-law, Susan D. and Jeff Nelsen, of Morgantown, West Virginia, Diane B. Chevalier, of Jacksonville, Florida, Cheryl A. and Robert Huttenhower of North Hills, and Melinda L. “Mindy” and Mark Hiber, of Hopewell, eleven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joseph was a retired assistant superintendent with the former LTV Steel of Aliquippa. He was a member of St. Francis Cabrini Roman Catholic Church in Aliquippa and Mary Queen of Saints Parish. He was a United States Air Force Veteran with the rank of Major serving during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was also apart of the Pennsylvania International Guard. He graduated in 1949 from Rochester High School and in 1953 from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.B.A. in Business Administration, where he also was a member of the ROTC. In 1961, he graduated from Geneva College with a B.S.I.E degree in Industrial Engineering. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Father James Reid Council with a third degree.

Friends and family will be received on Sunday, May 17th, from 2-5 p.m. at the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc. 349 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of his arrangements. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 18th at 10 a.m., at St. Francis Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, 115 Trinity Drive, Aliquippa. A private interment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, 273 PA-68, Rochester. The family wishes memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. The Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #862 will provide full military honors for their fallen comrade at 11 a.m. Monday morning.

Angelo Dominick Perini (1938-2026)

Angelo Dominick Perini passed away on the morning of May 12th, 2026, in the presence of his sons, James and Michael and grandchildren Theresa and Anthony, at Concordia Villa St. Joseph in Baden, where he resided for the past year and a half.

Angelo touched many lives. He was a loyal son and brother, a loving husband, a proud father, grandfather, great-grandfather, a gifted electrical engineer, and a good friend to many.

Angelo was a native New Yorker, who was born on June 16th, 1938, soon after his mother arrived from Italy by ship. He was raised in Garnerville on the Hudson River, lived briefly in New York City where he met his wife, Mary Frances Forhan, who he married on August 24, 1963. They then moved to Poughkeepsie, New York, where they shared 61 years of love and adventures.

He is survived by his four children: James and his wife, Lori, of Beaver, Michael of Millbrook, New York, Julia and her husband, John Frentress of Portland, Oregon and David and his wife, Amanda of Pittsburgh, four grandchildren: Dr. Kelly and her husband, Dr. Alan Slipak of Sewickley, Rachel and her husband, Aaron Westbrook of Harrisburg, Theresa Perini of Beaver, and Anthony Perini of Beaver, and five great-grandchildren: Samuel, Cecilia, and Alexander Slipak, and Reuben and Vincent Westbrook. Frequent visits from his great-grandchildren were by far the highlight of his time at Villa St Joseph.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Giulia and Pietro Perini, and his brothers, Dominick Perini and Louis Perini, and his wife, Mary.

As the eldest child of Italian immigrants, he learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and education. He served in the US Army from 1959-1961 at White Sands Missile Range where he helped develop the first-generation guided missile defense system during the Cold War. After receiving an honorable discharge, he went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College where he excelled in mathematics and physics. He and Mary moved to Poughkeepsie, New York in 1964 where they raised four children together. Angelo worked for IBM for 31 years, leading teams on early data science research on large, mainframe computers that evolved into the Internet and had the underpinnings of the modern AI world.

He committed himself fully to whatever captured his interest: fly fishing, tent camping, the latest technology, current events and politics, and his lifelong passion for golf. He enjoyed spending time with his wife and children in the Catskill mountains where he maintained a camp for decades. He loved to tell people that he was born in America but was made in Italy and he maintained close connections with his northern Italian relatives. He was fluent in both English and Italian and he took numerous long trips to Italy throughout his life, often bringing family members and friends with him to enjoy food, art, culture and deepen familial bonds. In his 30+ years of retirement, he and Mary traveled throughout the world, spending time in Ireland with Mary’s relatives, South Carolina and Florida, and Pennsylvania to visit his beloved grandchildren.

The family is grateful to the caring staff of Concordia at Villa St. Joseph, both in Personal Care and Skilled Nursing facilities. Their work is truly amazing.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, May 15th at 10:30 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 200 3rd Street, Beaver. Interment will immediately follow with a graveside service at Oak Grove Cemetery, 1101 9th St Extension, Freedom.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Meals on Wheels of Greater Poughkeepsie, 100 Cannon St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, or the Sisters of Saint Joseph, 1020 West State Street, Baden, PA 15005.

Professional Arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Angelo Dominick Perini, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Barbara Jeanne Shaffalo (1961-2026)

Barbara Jeanne Shaffalo, 86, formerly of Aliquippa and Bluffton, South Carolina, passed away on May 8th, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospice House in Wexford. She was born and raised in Aliquippa and lived a life marked by devotion to her family and kindness to others. She was the daughter of the late William and Mary (Mazzocca) Helterbran. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Raymond J. Shaffalo, Jr., whom she married on September 23rd, 1961, at St. Titus Catholic Church in Aliquippa. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Wilma Evans, Dorothy Merriman and William Helterman. These family ties remained an important part of her life.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan L. Brock and Deborah A. Neill, who were a source of great pride and joy to her. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren: Mitchell Brock, Ashley (Neill) Weisend & Brandon Weisend, Eric & Kylee Neill; as well as two great grandchildren, Lany Weisend & Maveric Neill, her brother-in-law, Ronald Shaffalo and her sisters-in-law, Georgia Shaffalo and Linda Francani.

Barbara was a 1958 graduate of Aliquippa High School who began her working life as a data entry operator for J. & L. Steel Corporation, later known as LTV Steel, in Aliquippa. She later served in the Human Resources Department of the Beaver County Courthouse. She was a former member of All Saints Episcopal Church and the Altar Guild in Aliquippa where her faith and service were reflected in her participation and commitment. She had many talents and interests and she used them generously. She sewed her own clothes, enjoyed knitting, and even did wallpapering with skill and care. She also had a remarkable file system that helped her remember to send cards for every important event in people’s lives. Her kindness extended well beyond her home and family. She visited elderly residents in nursing homes and held a deep respect for the elderly throughout her life. She attended her grandchildren’s events with enthusiasm and pride, and she was always present when it mattered most. She was also a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, enjoying the excitement and tradition of the team she followed faithfully. Above all, she was known for putting others before herself. Selfless is the word that best describes her, and it is a fitting tribute to a woman whose life was defined by generosity, compassion, and love.

Barbara’s memorial service will be held at Prince of Peace Anglican Church, 1314 Gringo Road, Aliquippa on Saturday, June 13th at 11:00 a.m. for friends and family. Private inurnment will take place at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville.

The family has requested those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Barbara’s memory to please consider the Prince of Peace Anglican Church, 1314 Gringo Road, Aliquippa 15001 or the Beaver County Humane Society, 3394 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.

Cynthia L. Wallace (1958-2026)

Cynthia L. Wallace, 67, of Beaver Falls, formally of New Brighton, passed away on May 11th, 2026. She was born on June 2nd, 1958. She is survived by her daughter, Jackie Willis, her son, Brian Willis, her sister, Bonnie Wallace, 7 nephews and 1 niece.

Cynthia was Protestant by faith and was a retired care-giver with Blair’s Nursing Home.

A memorial service for Cynthia will take place at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester.

She will be interred in the Wallace Cemetery in New Brighton.

James M. “Jim” Clonan, Jr. (1948-2026)

James M. “Jim” Clonan Jr., 78, of Brighton Township, passed away peacefully on May 7th, 2026.

He was born in Pittsburgh on March 23rd, 1948, the beloved son of the late James M. Clonan Sr. and Virginia (Skiba) Clonan.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jill (Sisley) Clonan, whom he cherished deeply throughout their years together. He is survived by his children, Brian Clonan, Courtney (Matt) Dalessandro and Brooke (James) Meininger, his grandchildren: Adelle and Agnes Clonan, Devon (Amber) Cuda and Edie, Eliot and Kai Dalessandro; as well as Presley, Margot, Penny, and James Meininger; along with his beloved dog, “Chiweenie,” his breakfast club buddies, and his extended family and friends.

James was a proud United States veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He honorably served his country with courage and pride. Following his military service, he dedicated his life to caring for others as a registered nurse, a profession he carried out with kindness and compassion. He was also deeply proud of his Lawrenceville roots, his time as a Morningside Bulldog, an outstanding athlete in his younger days, and as an alumnus of Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. He loved chatting and reminiscing, mostly about his kids’ antics, over a good cup of coffee. He was a captivating storyteller, an avid fisherman, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He carried life’s struggles heavily but remained steadfast and unwavering in his strong faith.

In accordance with James’ wishes, there will be no formal services. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Inurnment will be private at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville.

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to care for James and his family during this difficult time.

Daniel Thomas “Dan” Varga (1947-2026)

Daniel Thomas “Dan” Varga, 79, of White Township, passed away on April 30th, 2026, at Heritage Valley Beaver. He was born on March 15th, 1947, a son of the late Joseph and Martha Varga. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Pamela Varga, his siblings, Lawerence (Susan) Varga, Charles (Jill) Varga and Betsy (Bruce) Svensson, a nephew, Doug Varga, several nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

Daniel graduated from New Brighton High School and attended Parsons College. He joined the navy and served on the John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier. He returned back to Patterson Heights and Beaver Falls and worked at Babcock & Wilcox and later at VEKA in Fombell. He enjoyed fishing, canoeing and walking through the woods with his wife and dog. Upon retiring, he and Pamela treated themselves to a cruise to Alaska. They enjoyed it so much that they returned twice. He loved to barbecue on his Big Green Egg unit. Rain or snow, you could find him on the back porch grilling burgers, corn on the cob and lots of other meats and veggies. He was especially proud of the prime rib he grilled for holidays. It was always perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. He loved listening to jazz and blues, and there was always music playing in the house. His white Nisson Z convertible sports car was his pride and joy, although he never drove it farther than the driveway. The car was in perfect condition because, “it was never touched by rain or snow.” He had a sparkle in his eyes and a grin on his face. He had a wicked sense of humor and loved to make people laugh.

Memorial contributions can be donated to the Beaver County Humane Society in Daniel’s name. donations can be made online at https://beavercountyhumanesociety.org/online-donation/ or by mail, Beaver County Humane Society, 3394 Brodhead Road Center Township, PA 15001

Friends will be received on Saturday, May 16, from 2 P.M. until the time of a service at 6 P.M. at the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of his arrangements.

Brent D. Smith (1965-2026)

Brent D. Smith, 61, of Daugherty Township, passed away peacefully on May 8th, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford.

He was born in Ellwood City on March 30th, 1965, a son of Sandra (Bishop) Smith and the late David J. Smith. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Janet (Cardosi) Smith, three sons, Ryan and Tyler, both of New Brighton, and Vinnie, of Aiken, South Carolina, his brother, Bruce Smith, of Ellwood City, his brother-in-law, Rob (Kelley) Cardosi of New Brighton, his sisters-in-law, Donna (Jim) Goda of Charlotte, North Carolina and Nancy Sheets of New Brighton. He was also an uncle to many nieces and nephews who loved and adored him.

Brent spent many years as a shop supervisor and was highly regarded as “the boss.” A true handyman, there wasn’t anything he could not fix! He was an avid sport fan—especially Penguins hockey—and his favorite football cheer was: “We Are (NOT) Penn State– Hail to Pitt!” He was a father who coached his sons in Little League, a husband who loved and supported his family, and a son who was always there when needed. Fishing was his passion and he loved sharing the “the one that got away” stories. He had a quick wit and a dry sense of humor. Plain and simple; he was a good man—gone too soon.

He was also an active member of Holy Family Church in New Brighton and Our Lady of the Valley Parish.

In accordance with Brent’s wishes, there will be no public viewing. However, on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, a Mass of Christian Burial will occur at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 521 7th Ave, New Brighton. Fr. Tom Kredel and Fr. Howard Campbell will concelebrate. Private interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, 1501 1st Avenue, New Brighton. Arrangements have been entrusted to the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc., 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton.

Memorial contributions may be made in Brent’s name to: KIF1A.ORG in honor of his niece Paisley who is living with this rare disease. Make checks payable to KIF1A.ORG and mail to KIF1A.ORG 1178 Broadway, 3rd Floor #3535 New York, NY 10001 or go online and donate through the website.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Brent D. Smith, please visit the flower store of the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Randy. J. Hinzman (1963-2026)

Randy J. Hinzman, 62, of Ambridge, passed away at home on May 11th, 2026. He was born in Sewickley on June 16th, 1963, the son of the late James and Sally Irene (Horton) Hinzman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles W. and Madeline (Matanick) Lutz, a sister-in-law, Renee Lutz, and a nephew, Nicholas Soltis. He is survived by his loving wife, Rochelle (Lutz) Hinzman, 3 daughters, Rebecca (J.C. Reboton) Hinzman, Laura Hinzman and Ashton (David) Weatherly, his adored granddaughter, Margo Weatherly, a sister, Lisa (John) McCullough, 2 sisters-in-law, Roxanne (Jeff) Soltis and Rhonda (Gary) Lazzaretti, his nephews and nieces: Travis McCullough, Tristan (Kyleigh) McCullough, Jay McCullough, Mitchel Lazzaretti, Chanda (Max) Fallecker, Melinda (Andrew) Pisano, Breanna (Larry) Musgrave; as well as numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Randy was a carpenter by trade for nearly 30 years. He was also a proud member of the Masonic Hall Sewickley, Lodge 630. In his spare time, he absolutely loved the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed going camping and riding around on his ATV. In the kitchen, his specialties included homemade jelly from berries that he hand-picked, jerky and his wonderful Christmas cookies, which earned him the title, “The Christmas Cookie Baker.” When it came to movies, he was fond of good-old Western classics, and music, Big Band and Blue Grass.

Family and friends are welcome to gather for a visitation on Friday, May 15th, from 4-8 P.M., in the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc., 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where a blessing service will take place on Saturday, May 16th, commencing at 11 A.M. Interment will follow in Good Samaritan Catholic Cemetery (Ambridge).

Rebecca “Becky” Cirka (1951-2026)

Rebecca “Becky” Cirka, 74, of Conway, passed away peacefully on May 6th, 2026. She was born on December 24th, 1951, a daughter of the late John and Margaret (Musserbok) Cirka. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings: John, Robert, Richard, David, Madeline Kosela, and Renee Charitonuk.

She is survived by her loving brother, George Cirka, her son, Kevin, several grandchildren, many cherished nieces, nephews, and extended family members, her dear friend, Bill, and the many friends she made at Conway Towers.

Rebecca lived a life centered around family, friendship, and the simple joys she loved most. She was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Ambridge, where she enjoyed volunteering and helping make pierogi for church events. She dedicated more than a decade of service to working at the Economy Walmart, where she was known for her friendly personality and hardworking spirit.

She found happiness in life’s simple pleasures — shooting pool with friends at her pool club, listening to music from the 1960s, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and playing poker games on her phone. She will be remembered for her warmth, sense of humor, and the friendships she built throughout her life.

Family and friends will be received from 9-10 A.M. on Friday, May 22nd at Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge, who was in charge of her arrangements. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 A.M. at Saint Mary’s Byzantine Church, 624 Park Road, Ambridge. Interment will take place afterward at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery,

Maria Joanne Mattson (1971-2026)

Maria Joanne Mattson, 55, of New Brighton, formerly of Erie, passed away on May 6th, 2026. She was born on April 11th, 1971, a beloved daughter of the late William and Betty Mattson, Sr.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Peggy Mattson.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Walter Harris, Jr., her daughter and best friend, Toya Harris and her brother, William Mattson, Jr.

Maria enjoyed relaxing at home watching movies, shopping, and spending cherished time with her husband and daughter. She was known for her outgoing and social personality. She also had a love for soul and R&B music.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday, May 14th, from 3-7 P.M. at Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge, who was in charge of her arrangements, and where a Blessing Service will be held at 4 P.M.