Barbara Jean Vanats, 84, of Monaca, passed away on February 23rd, 2025, at Celebration Villa of Chippewa. Her last two days were filled with celebration, joy, and the loving presence of her family.

She was born in New Castle and lived the majority of her life in Monaca. Barbara was a daughter of the late Keith Thomas and Ella Gertrude (Locke) Ely. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands Stephen Phillips and Carl Vanats, her brothers, Chuck (Rita) Ely, Keith Thomas ‘Tom’ (Barb) Ely and Ralph Ely, and her sisters: Pearl Louise Ely, Beatrice (William) Knowlson, Mary Lou (Jack) Jeffers, and Sandy Hunter.

Barbara was a devoted mother and is survived by her loving children: Deborah (Mike) McDonald, Stephen Phillips, Alex (Lonnie) Phillips, Daniel (Tammie) Phillips, and William (Teresa) Phillips; as well as sisters Rosetta Baker and Beverly Crisman. She was a proud grandmother to 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, all of whom brought immense joy and pride to her life.

After dedicating her life to raising her five children, Barbara entered the workforce, taking on various part-time jobs. It was in these roles that she continued to touch the lives of many, making friends wherever she went. Her radiant smile, kindness, generosity, humor, and loving nature were her trademarks, and she was always ready to welcome new friends into her life.

She had a passion for playing cards and games, and she cherished the time spent with her family above all else. These activities were not merely hobbies for Barbara; they were extensions of her warm, inviting personality and her way of nurturing the bonds she held so dear.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 26th from 2-8 p.m. at Simpson Funeral & Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, where services will be held on Thursday, February 27th at 10 a.m. with Reverend Dr. Richard Herbster officiating. Interment will follow in St John the Baptist Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank Pinnacle Hospice and Celebration Villa of Chippewa for the kindness and compassion that was shown to Barbara and her family.

To share online condolences, view Barbara’s video tribute, or get directions, please visit www.simpsonfuneralhome.com.

David B. Forse, 85, of Harmony Township, passed away on February 21st, 2025.  He was born in Rochester on July 31st, 1939, the son of the late Thomas & Margaret Jurisin Forse. In accordance with David’s wishes, there were no services held. Arrangements have been entrusted to the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc., 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge.

Joseph A. Colianni, 69, of Patterson Heights, passed away on February 22nd, 2025 at his residence. He was born on May 21st, 1955.

In accordance with Joseph’s wishes, all services were private.

Professional Services were entrusted to Corless-Kunselman Funeral Services, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls.

Mildred Ann (Mickey) Jurich, 96, of Vanport, passed away on February 22nd, 2025 surrounded by her family at home.

She was born in Powhatan Point, Ohio, on August 3rd, 1928, the daughter of the late Milan and Helen Bizic of Adena, Ohio. In addition to her parents, Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Steven Jurich, her daughter, Patricia (Bill) Beckmann, a sister, Helen and five brothers, John, Milan, Sam, Don and Rudy. She is survived by two brothers, Stephen and Charles (Judy) Bizic, her sons, Steven (Jeanette) and Danny (Debby), five grandchildren: Brandon (Jessica) Reader, Katie Beckmann, Juliann (Brandon) Acon and Elizabeth and Jennifer Jurich; two great grandchildren, Mickey Goehring and Gwenn Acon, as well as multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mildred was a graduate of Cadiz High School in Cadiz, Ohio. She worked at Westinghouse Corporation in Beaver until her retirement in 1994. Throughout her life, she enjoyed cooking and hosting family gatherings, particularly around the holidays. She was also a former member and president of the Van Buren Woman’s Club. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend by all who knew her.

Friends will be received on Friday, February 28th from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. at the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, where services will be held on Saturday, March 1st at 11 A.M. Interment will follow at the Beaver Cemetery and will be held on a later date. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

Janet L. Shafer, 80, of Beaver Falls, formerly of Beaver, passed away on February 21st, 2025 at Allegheny General Hospital of Pittsburgh.

She was born in Sewickley on June 24th, 1944, a daughter of the late Joseph and Ruth Wyrick Besong. In addition to her parents, Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Robert G. Shafer. She is survived by her sons, Dennis R. (Connie) Shafer, Michael D. Shafer, and Marty L. (Jodi) Shafer, sister, Betty J. (Jim) Reynolds, and grandchildren: Andy, Hannah, Emily, Nicholas, Karleigh, Brayden and Logan.

Janet was a resident of Beaver Falls most of her life who enjoyed a career in data entry. She especially cherished spending time with her grandchildren mini-golfing, watching their baseball games, or attending their many musical events. When she wasn’t enjoying her grandchildren, she enjoyed bingo nights or travelling to Mountaineer Casino with her good friend, Peggy Pletz.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, February 26th, from 6-8 p.m. in the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, where a service will be conducted on Thursday, February 27th, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

Stephen J. Antolic, Jr., 85, of Economy, passed away on February 22nd, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife and family. He was born on December 19th, 1939, a son of the late Daisy and Stephen J. Antolic Sr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jimmy Antolic.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Bonnie Antolic, children, Debbie Antolic, David Antolic and Stephen J. (Sonya) Antolic III, siblings: Robert (Carol) Antolic, Richard Antolic, Ronald Antolic, Carol (Chester) Rhodes and John (Sue) Antolic; grandchildren, Stephen J. (fiancée, Samantha Russo) Antolic Jr., Abbey (Jarret) Cunnard and Savannah Antolic, one great-grandchild on the way, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Stephen was a 1957 graduate of St. Veronica High School who proudly served in the United States Air Force. He worked for J&L Steel and later owned and operated Standard Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning. Stephen was a dedicated member of the former St. Veronica Church, now known as Good Samaritan Catholic Church of Ambridge. He was known as a “Mr. Fix-It,” admired for his hard work, craftsmanship and unwavering commitment.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, February 26th, from 4-7 P.M. at Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC., 547 8th Street, Ambridge. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 27th, at 12:30 P.M. at Good Samaritan Catholic Church, 725 Glenwood Avenue, Ambridge. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville.

Tad Zimmer, 54, of Coraopolis, passed away with his family by his side on February 23rd, 2025. He was born on June 20th, 1970, a son of Ronald Zimmer and Pamella Adamski. He is preceded in death by a brother, Todd Zimmer.

He is survived by his loving step-mother, Susan Mitchell, a brother, Ty (Sue) Zimmer, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Tad had a deep passion for music, especially from the 80’s and 90’s. He was also a dedicated fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. Above all, Tad had a special love for his Starbucks coffee. He will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge.

Julia (Yankulic) Petula, 94, of Ambridge, passed away on February 21st, 2025. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary Yankulic. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mike Petula, as well as five brothers and three sisters.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Nancy) Petula and Larry (Janet) Petula; her grandchildren: Traci, Michael, Gwendolyn and Alyssa; as well as seven great-grandchildren.

Julia had a passion for baking and cooking, and she loved playing bingo and cards. She enjoyed visits from her neighbors and always had the coffee pot brewing.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Julia’s dear friend and caregiver, Fred Cook, as well as family friend, Lucy Mouradian.

In honor of Julia, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to a charity of your choice.

In accordance with her wishes, funeral services will be private. The services and arrangements are entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge.

Mary Jane “Janey” Helble, 73, of Sarver, Pennsylvania (formerly of New Brighton, passed away on February 21st, 2025.

She was born in New Brighton on August 3rd, 1951, a daughter of the late Chalmers and Mary Ann (Eckhardt) Helble. She is survived by five siblings: Susan (the late William) Cronin, Ruth Cattivera, Kathy (John) Orosz, Denis (Cheryle) Helble and Doris Nadzam; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two nieces and an infant nephew, Laura Ann Cronin, Angela Cronin Chadwick and Jeffrey Cronin.

After working at McGuire Memorial Home throughout her teenage years, Mary Jane moved to Hartford, Connecticut where she worked for Aetna Insurance for 20 years. In 1991, she returned to Beaver County where she lived with and was a wonderful companion to her mom for 27 years. While lovingly caring for her mom, Janey worked for Philips Production/ExxonMobil/XTO Energy for 25 years. Janey retired in 2016 to be home more with Mom. In 2018, after having finished her mission of caring for her mom, Janey moved to Sarver, Pennsylvania to live with her sister Doris who has lovingly cared for her for the past 7 years.

Mary Jane was a woman of many talents. She had a deep love for music and dancing, especially country line dancing, and could find the beat in any song, even if the rest of us had two left feet.

She was also a master of the small joys in life: solving word search puzzles like a detective, bringing paint-by-number art to life with patience and precision, and creating beautiful crafts that she and Mom would proudly sell at craft shows (or, let’s be honest, keep half of because they were just too nice to part with).

Dementia may have tried to dim her light, but it never took away her spirit. She continued to bring joy, laughter, and the occasional sassy remark to those around her. Her family will forever cherish the memories of her sharp wit, boundless creativity, and the way she could make any gathering feel like a party.

Family and friends will be received Tuesday, February 25th, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in J &J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton. Prayers will be held on Wednesday, February 26th at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in Holy Family Church, 521 7th Avenue, New Brighton. Fr. Howard Campbell O’Neill officiate. A celebration of her life will take place at J&J Spratt Funeral Home in New Brighton, where we’ll share stories, play her favorite music, and maybe even do a little dancing in her honor, though none of us will do it quite as well as she did.

Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, New Brighton.

In lieu of flowers, you may choose to donate in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association or take some time to dance to a song you love, lose yourself in a puzzle, start a craft project (even if you never finish it), and remember that life is meant to be lived with joy, creativity, and a little bit of rhythm.

Eleanor Eva Reynolds (née Kelly), 83, of Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 16th, 2025.

She was born in Vanport Township, Pennsylvania on December 10th, 1941. Eleanor lived a life defined by kindness, selflessness, and an unwavering love for her family and friends. She graduated from Midland High School in 1960 and went on to dedicate 22 years of her life as a custodian for the Beaver Area School District, where her hard work, reliability, and kind nature left a lasting impression on everyone she worked with.

Eleanor had a special gift for making people feel valued and loved. Her door was always open, and her heart was even more so. She found pure joy in life’s simple moments: spending time with her great-grandchildren, reading her Bible, making homemade chocolate candies, and watching her favorite game shows, especially Jeopardy. She loved reading the daily newspaper and completing crossword puzzles.

Above all, Eleanor’s greatest passion was her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who made sure everyone felt deeply loved. Her wisdom, patience, and boundless generosity were felt by all who knew her. She was a gentle, caring soul who made everyone feel seen, valued, and loved.

She is survived by her loving son, Edward Reynolds, her adoring granddaughter, Emily Reynolds, Emily’s fiancé, Nathan Atkinson, her great-grandsons, Liam and Max, her great-granddaughters, Sienna, Aubree, Harper, and Riley (who will be welcomed into the world soon) and her sister-in-law, Gladys Kelly. She also leaves behind countless nieces, nephews, and friends who cherished her deeply.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, Eleanor and Edward Kelly and her siblings: Edward Kelly Jr. (and his late wife Gladys), John Kelly, Allan Kelly, Twila Holben (and her late husband Gene), Mary Hartman (and her late husband Joseph), and George Kelly. She was the last surviving sibling of her family, carrying forward the love and memories of each one.

Eleanor’s life was a shining example of kindness, compassion, and unconditional love. She had a way of making everyone feel like family. Her gentle nature, sweet smile, and the love she so freely gave left a mark that will never fade.

In honoring Eleanor’s wishes, there will be no public service. A private cremation will take place. All arrangements were entrusted to the GABAUER-TODD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc. 340 Third Street, Beaver, who was honored to take care of Eleanor and her family.

Though she is no longer with us, Eleanor’s legacy of love, kindness, and family devotion will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. She was truly one of a kind—a light in the lives of so many—and she will be missed beyond measure.