Annette Vassallo Sladick passed away peacefully on Sunday March 31, 2024, while surrounded by her family.

Annette began her career as an Operating Room Aide at the former Rochester General Hospital for a short time before the facility closed. Then, she was employed as a Technician in the Sterile Processing Department for 35 years at Heritage Valley Beaver (former Medical Center of Beaver County). Annette eventually earned her certification as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST). Outside of work, she treasured her vacations at the beach with family and warm summer weekends lounging by the pool. Annette also loved both watching and playing sports (especially softball), camping, bike riding, and shopping for bargains, but the joy of her life was her grandson Jace Michael. Annette had a beautiful smile, warm heart, and she gifted us with so many happy memories.

Annette is survived by her husband of 51 years, Robert “Bert” Sladick of Ohioville, PA, sons Michael Sladick, and Benjamin (Brittney) Sladick, grandson Jace, and expected grandson in July 2024; sisters Mary Halfhill, and Jeanne (Douglas) Bryson; brothers-in-law Charles (Sharon) Sladick and John (Michelle) Sladick; sisters-in-law Elizabeth (Fred) Colosimo, and Kathy (Timothy) Taormina; beloved niece Amy Halfhill Brown; cousins Michele Adkins and Mary Jo Goyak-Tidd; along with numerous other aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Annette is preceded in death by her parents Casmir and Mildred “Bebee” Vassallo, and John and Mary Sladick, brother-in-law Kenneth Halfhill, and cousin Tina Newtz.

Friends will be received Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Schwerha-Noll Funeral Home, 600 Beaver Ave., Midland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, April 5, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Parish, St. Blaise Church, Midland. Interment will take place at Beaver Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

The family would like to thank the nurses at PAM Health at Heritage Valley Beaver and the staff at Advanced Hospice, especially nurse Cami.

In lieu of flowers you may send donations in honor of Annette Sladick to one of her favorite charitable organizations, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

George E. Lopata Sr., 87, of Monaca, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2024. He was the son of the late Andy and Anna Lopata. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Shirley, children; Tim, George, David, Karen, and Kim; grandchildren; John (Tiffani) Baucom,  Brian (Hannah) Eckhart, Jason (Tiffani) Eckhart; and great grandsons; Preston & Grayson Baucom. George worked for 30 years at Armco Steel, was a crane operator at Leetsdale Ornamental and he was the owner of Lopatas Silk Florals. He served as the CEO of the Forge Invitational Muscle Car Show and muscle car display provider for Bristol Motor Speedway, NHRA and NASCAR. He presented the Lee Lacocca Award for Barrett Jackson and John Force of the NHRA. George was in numerous magazine feature articles and a display coordinator at SEMA. He was a member Knights of Columbus and Beaver County Industrial Museum. George enjoyed gardening and loved to collect and restore antique cars. He will be deeply missed by the muscle car community. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Good Samaritan Hospice, Beaver for their dignity and compassion. Arrangements were entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, Ambridge.

Diane (Everett) Kownacki, of Moon Township, passed away on March 31, 2024, in Good Samaritan Hospice House of Wexford, Pennsylvania. She was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania on July 19, 1956, the daughter of the late Charles & Lena (Ferry) Everett. In addition to her parents, Diane was preceded in death by her son, Jonathan Kownacki.

Diane is survived by her husband, Robert J. “Bob” Kownacki, a son, Robert C. “Bobby” Kownacki & fiancé Madison Schuffert, sisters, Sherry (Bill) Neal & Sandra (Eric) Frank, and many nieces, nephews & friends.

Diane graduated from Moon High School in 1974. She was a movie and sweets connoisseur, enjoying all that life had to offer. She was a devoted wife of 40 years and mother of two children. She loved Lake Erie and Hawaii.  You would never catch Diane in long sleeves or pants, even in the heart of winter, when she had on her summer attire of tank tops and jean shorts.  Her smile, laugh, and positive attitude brought joy to everyone she encountered. Her belief was, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 from 12pm-3pm at Baden Borough Building, 149 State St, Baden, PA 15005.

William David Lytle, Sr., 77, passed away on the evening of March 30th, 2024. Dave was born in Parnell, Missouri in 1946 and moved to Pittsburgh in 1957. He lived in Beaver, Pennsylvania for 42 years and recently lived in Chippewa Township. In addition to his parents, Dave was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 53 years, Gail Martin Lytle in 2021.

He is survived by a brother George D. (Tina) Lytle of Odenton, Maryland, three children, Mary C. (Scott) Higby of Ellwood City, Rena’ L. (John) Toomey of Norfolk, Virginia and William D. (Misty) Lytle, Jr. of Beaver and eight grandchildren, Scott Vincent (Jenna) Higby, Joshua D. Higby, Abigail F. Higby, Maryna G. Lytle, Noah D. Lytle, Daniel N. Lytle, Jonathan F. Toomey, and Charlotte F. Toomey. Dave also is survived by many nieces and nephews.

After serving as an Infantry Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Dave served 26 years as a Pennsylvania State Trooper in Beaver and 15 years as a Senior Security Specialist for Federal Express Corporation in Pittsburgh. While serving with the Pennsylvania State Police, he received a Commissioner’s Letter of Commendation for bravery, Troop Commander’s Letter of Commendation for outstanding investigation and arrest, and US Air Flight 427 Commendation. While serving with Federal Express Corporation, he received numerous outstanding performance awards for investigations.

Dave was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Beaver, where he served as an elder, deacon, and longtime member of Community Bible Study. Dave was also active in the Boy Scouts of America, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout Award as a youth and awarded the Silver Beaver Award as a Unit Commissioner in the Beaver Valley District of Laurel Highlands Council. He also belonged to FOP Lodge 54, Retired State Police Association of Pennsylvania, American Legion Post 261, Vietnam Veterans of America and Gideons International.

Friends will be received Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. A funeral service will be conducted Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Beaver. Burial with full military honors will take place Friday, April 5, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies of Bridgeville. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

Joseph Carosa, 89, of Midland, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Born May 12, 1934 in Midland, he was a son of the late John and Concetta Radeschi Carosa. In addition to his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by his daughter, Toni Jo Carosa, and brother, Patrick Carosa. He will be greatly missed by his sister-in-law, Eva Pantoni, and niece, Christine Glavaris.

Joseph was a proud veteran of the Korean War, going on to a long career as a steelworker. He was a member of the St. Anthony Club, Elks #283 and VFW #66. He was a parishioner of St. Blaise Church in Midland of Saint Augustine Parish.

Professional arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

Genevieve Delores (Wahl) Leonberg, 94, of Rochester, passed away on March 29, 2024.

She was born on October 3, 1929 in New Sewickley Township, PA, to the late Dorothy (Bolland) and Alfred Wahl. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Charles J. Leonberg, daughters and sons-in-law, Jeannie (Harry) Stewart and JoAnn (David) Minett. She is survived by her sons Charles (Kim) Leonberg and Chris Leonberg, daughters, Jacqueline Rindle and Judy (Doug) Frederick, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and extended family members.
Genevieve was a graduate of New Brighton High School who treasured spending time with family and friends and raised six children with her husband. She worked as a server at the original Kaufman House in Zelienople and was a sales consultant for Avon for more than forty years. Genevieve was a former member of Big Knob Grange and Fire Station Auxiliary and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

A Memorial Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 3, from 6-8pm, in the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 3rd Ave, New Brighton, and Thursday from 10am until the time of the Memorial Service at 11am, with Pastor Peggy Suhr-Barkley officiating.

Private interment will follow at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, 273 PA-68, Rochester.

Lois M. Pollock, 81, of Baden, passed away on March 30, 2024. She was born in Cumberland, Maryland on February 5, 1943, the daughter of the late Cecil and Mary (Warnick) Beeman.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Pollock and her brother, Wayne Beeman.

She is survived by her 3 children, Todd Pollock, Christine (Jim) Niehenke, Dawn (David) Price; and 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Per her wishes, there will be no visitation, services will be private with interment at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.

Dolly E. Shanholtz, 89, of Center Township, passed away peacefully at home, Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Born February 6, 1935 in Center Township, she was a daughter of the late Henry Martin and Dora Braun Howells. In addition to her parents, Dolly was preceded in death by her first husband, Stephen M. Mattica, Sr.; second husband, John P. Zobrak, Sr.; siblings, William Howells, Juanita Howells, Dorothy Roberts and Beatrice Caplinger. Dolly will be greatly missed by her husband, Douglas G. Shanholtz; sons, Stephen M. (Patti) Mattica, Jr., John P. (Mary) Zobrak, Jr., Douglas Shanholtz, Jr., David (Denise) Shanholtz and Timothy (Lisa) Shanholtz; daughter, Nancy (John) Black; brother, Henry M. Howells; grandchildren, Shelly (Robert) Beachamp, Rebecca Elle, John (Adriana) Mattica, Sarah and Alyssa Zobrak, Kendyl (Skylar) Carter, Joshua (Allyson) Black, Hannah and Ty Shanholtz, Elizabeth (Matthew) Rabold, and Thea (Jonathan) Jimenez; great-grandchildren, Robert, Ashley and Caleb Beauchamp, Benjamin, Isaac, Aaron and Abby Elle, and Stephen and Kathryn Mattica; and great-great-grandchildren, Harvest Elle, Daniel and Judah Black, and Carolina and Cassius Jimenez. Dolly retired following a 34-year career as a school bus driver with Rhoads Transit, having transported students from the Center, Rochester and Monaca School Districts. She was a member of the Center Twp. VFD #1 Womens Auxiliary and had taught Sunday School at the Church of the Living Christ, Bridgewater, where she practiced her faith and traveled to Honduras for mission trips. In her spare time, Dolly loved to read.

Friends will be received during a memorial service, Monday, April 1, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Living Christ, Bridgewater. Professional arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Dolly’s name may be made to the Church of the Living Christ, Bridgewater.

Howard W. Cope, 61, of Aliquippa, lost his hard-fought battle with cancer on March 28, 2024. He was the son of the late Howard B. and Blanche L. Cope. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his nieces Samantha Renee Sitler and Myla Lynn Rushman. He is survived by his siblings, Timothy (Paula) A. Cope, Garth Cope, Duane Cope, Cherish Miller and friend Jim Lamey, Jason E. Cope and friend Patricia Eaton, very special friends, Rick and Cathy Miller, many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and loving friends. Howard was a graduate of Hopewell High School and served our country proudly in the United States Army as a combat engineer. He was the owner and operator of Cope Construction for many years. Howard went on to work as a project manager for Shawrose Construction and Local 833 Laborers Union until he was stricken ill with cancer. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish, hunt, and garden. Friends will be received on Monday, April 1, 2024, from 2-4 PM and 6:00 PM until time of funeral service at 8:00 PM in the Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge, 724-266-2549. Full military honors will be held at 4:00 PM at the funeral home by the Beaver County Honor Guard. Burial is scheduled at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made in Howard’s name to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Lois A. “Dolly” Bruno, 91, of Freedom, passed away on March 26, 2024. She was born in Rochester, PA on May 12, 1932, a daughter of the late Louis and Adeline (Mustalo) DeNucci.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William Bruno and her siblings, Delores Yannachione and Thomas DeNucci.

She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne (Bruce) Vaughn; her grandchildren, Michael (Angela) Vaughn, Christianne (Alan) Harpster, and her two great grandchildren, Katherine Vaughn and Avrie Harpster. She is also survived by her brother, Gerald DeNucci.

There will be a private family viewing in the funeral home, then a public Mass of Christion Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 2 at 10 AM, in Our Lady of the Valley Parish, St. Felix (Freedom). Cemetery interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Freedom.