Category: Obituaries

Sallie Jane Beal (1935-2025)

Sallie Jane Beal, 89, of Darlington, formally of Beaver Falls, passed away on January 4th, 2025, at Lakeview Personal Care Home.

She was born in New Brighton on June 6th, 1935, a daughter of the late Edwin and Millie Bell Wall Harding. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband in 1979, David E. Beal, Jr, two sons, Steven Beal and David E. Beal Ill, an infant son, Lawrence S. Beal, two brothers, Tom Dorman and Paul Dorman and a sister, Connie Soisson. She is survived by her daughter, Susan (James) Dixon, daughter-in-law, Mary Langer, four grandchildren: Waylon Farris, Andrew L. (Allison) Dixon, James D. (Jessica) Dixon, and Steven B. Beal; and three great-grandchildren, Luke Dixon, Colby Dixon, and Ariana Dixon.

Sallie graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1953. She had previously worked as a housekeeper until her retirement at Westinghouse and as a former telephone operator for Bell Telephone. She was a member of Steffin Hill Presbyterian Church. She loved working with her hands, especially crafting and ceramics.

Friends will be received on Saturday, January 11th from 12 noon until the time of service at 2 P.M. at CORLESS-KUNSELMAN FUNERAL SERVICES, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls, where Rev. Michael Burkley will officiate.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made in Sallie’s name to Steffin Hill Presbyterian Church, 2000 Darlington Rd, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.

Reverend Wilma Jean Smith (1927-2025)

Reverend Wilma Jean Smith, 97, of Beaver Falls, passed away at Heritage Valley Beaver, on January 4th, 2025. She was born in New Brighton on July 16th, 1927, to the late Clifford and Laura Robinson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Clifford, Danny, Thomas, Robert, and Hebert Robinson, two of whom died in infancy, and four sisters: Anna Mildred Thomas, Edith Delores Rawl, Laura “Betty” Ikard and Judith Robinson. Reverend Wilma Jean Smith had no children and she is survived by Lonnie Robinson and a host of nieces and nephews, relatives, her three goddaughters, Ruth Long, Ashley Wilson, and Tara Robinson and her devoted niece Janile Fielding. She was the middle child of ten children.

Known as Aunt Jean, Wilmps, Revie Rev, Wilma moved away to Chicago when she was eighteen years old. Wilma married Ernest White in 1948 until his passing. She then later married Mr. Ralph Smith. She was employed with the United States Postal Service in Chicago. Wilma Jean attended Kennedy-King College, majoring in Child Development for Exceptional Children. After returning to Beaver County, she became employed by Babcock and Wilcox. Wilma Jean furthered her education by attending Geneva College for Theology. She became a licensed Evangelist under the guidance and direction of Rev. Phyliss Rucker.

Reverend Smith loved the Lord and the church.  She was a former Wayman Chapel AM.E. Church member in New Brighton. Reverend Wilma Jean Smith’s first pastoral appointment was at Trinity A.M.E. Church in Ellwood City, and then Bethel A.M.E. Church of Tarentum, Pennsylvania.  Reverend Smith served as pastor of St. John A.M.E. Church of Bridgewater, for seventeen years as a Local Elder.  After thirty-five years of serving the Lord, she tried but never stopped serving.

Reverend Wilma Jean Smith loved to sew, crochet, and do crafts. She also played the piano.

Her favorite scripture is “I will lift my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121: 1-2.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 10th, from 4-7 p.m. at St John-Wayman AME Church, 715 Mulberry Street, Beaver. The Homegoing Celebration is on Saturday, January 11, at 11:00 a.m., held at the same church. The Officiant is Licentiate Monica Jackson, the Pastor of St. John-Wayman A.M.E. Church of Bridgewater.

Interment will follow in Grove Cemetery of New Brighton. Arrangements have been entrusted to J&J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton.

JoAnn Muntean (1940-2025)

JoAnn Muntean, 84, passed away on January 6th, 2025.

She was born on March 15th, 1940, a daughter of the late Eileen and Reginald McGown. In addition to her parents and stepmother, she was preceded in death by her son, John Muntean. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Kenneth Jack Muntean, two sisters Carol (Lee) Wagoner and Donna (Jim) Martsolf, daughters Patricia Muntean (Ralph Deafenbaugh), Debbie (Brad) Ellefson and Susan Lambert, grandchildren: David M-D, Kimberly (Christopher) Pacella, Robert (Mindy) Lambert, Katie (David) Bowker, Jessica (Douglas) Meek; and great-grandchildren: Andrew, Max, Ariel, Ethan, Brooklyn, Taylor, Nathan, Melanie, Everlee.

JoAnn loved serving the Lord by teaching Sunday school, singing in the church choir & helping with many church dinners. She also conducted a service at Cambridge Village for fifteen years for the residents with several of her church friends from Riverview Methodist Church. In her later years, she became a member of Chippewa Alliance Church.

JoAnn loved and cherished spending time with her family and friends.

Friends will be received Friday, January 10th from 10 A.M. until the time of service at 12 noon at CORLESS-KUNSELMAN FUNERAL SERVICES, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls. Rev. Dan Muir will officiate.

A thank you goes out to the staff at Life Beaver small homes for the wonderful care they provided JoAnn this past year.

Donna Baker Hirt (1933-2025)

Donna Baker Hirt, 91, of Brighton Township, passed away on January 4th, 2025, at Villa St. Joseph.

She was born in Monaca on March 30th, 1933, the daughter of the late Edythe Marion (Bell) and Lester Edwin Hage. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband James W. Baker Jr. and her second husband Dr. John B., Hirt USMC. She is survived by her five children: Stephen Baker of Brighton Township, Philip (Michelle) Baker of Palm Harbor, Florida, Susan (Bob) Kaestner of Charlotte, North Carolina, James T. (Kim) Baker, of Canfield, Ohio and Amy (Jeff) Fencik, of Flower Mound, Texas; sixteen grandchildren: Jeremy T. Baker, Alyna Baker, Tashah Baker, Zenah Baker, Jorden Baker, Robby Kaestner, Zack Baker-Stowe, Grace Baker-Stowe, Brendan Fencik, Matthew Fencik, Evan Fencik, Joshua Fencik, Sean Fencik, Aaron Fencik, Robert Baker, and Olivia (Chase) Barron; and former daughter-in-law, Becky Snow-Baker of Brighton Township.

A graduate of Beaver Area High School, Donna earned a Bachelor of Art Degree in Art Education from Edinboro University and a Master’s Degree from University of Pittsburgh. She taught art classes at all grade levels for twenty-six years, mostly at College Square and Dutch Ridge Elementary (BASH). She also previously taught in Western Beaver and Potter Township schools. She enjoyed classic TMC movies, beach vacations, and overseas travel to different countries.

Friends will be received on Sunday, January 12th in the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. A Funeral Service will be conducted on Monday, January 13th at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 252 College Avenue, Beaver,. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com.

Private Interment will take place at Beaver Cemetery.

Donna’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Heritage Valley Beaver, Villa St. Joseph, Baden, and Good Samaritan Hospice, Wexford, for their love and compassionate care given to Donna during her time with them.

Debra Kaye Woodward (1964-2025)

Debra Kaye Woodward, 60, of Chippewa Township, passed away on January 6th, 2025, in the comfort of her home.

She was born in Hopewell on March 24th, 1964, the daughter of Daniel and Carol (Maine) Bucan. She is survived by her loving husband of thirty-three years, Peter T. Woodward, her siblings, Danny Bucan and Dawn (Tom) Shane, along with numerous nieces, nephews, neighbors and special friends.

Debra worked for Giant Eagle in the produce department for twenty years.  She was a sports enthusiast and loved her dogs.

In accordance with her wishes, Debra will be cremated and no services are being planned at this time.

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to provide care and guidance to Debra’s family.

Pamela C. Kendrew (1950-2025)

Pamela C. Kendrew, 74, formerly of Venetia, Pennsylvania passed away on New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2025, at the Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania. She was born on February 20th, 1950, in New Brighton, the daughter of the late U.S. Army Staff Sergeant John Benjamin Kendrew of New Brighton and the late Phyllis Jane Bagshaw of Hopewell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Ben Kendrew II. She is survived by her nephews: Ben and Melanie Kendrew (Luke and Emma) of Pittsburgh, Jamie and Michelle Kendrew (Brandon and Rebecca) of Harmony, Joseph “Smitty” Kendrew of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Kevin and Chelsea Kendrew (Norah and Max), of Valencia, Pennsylvania, cousin and life-long friend, Cheryl Gropp & Family of Rochester. Pamela had a successful career in business and sales. Her heart belonged to a lifetime of love for her many cats, for whom she compassionately provided care. She was a fantastic cook and loved hosting Christmas parties for friends and family. She also had deep and meaningful friendships with Donna Lewis, Erin Massella, and Jill Griffin. In accordance with Pamela’s wishes, there will be no viewing. A private service will be held for the family and close friends at Sylvania Hills Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are being entrusted to the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to any Humane Society, ASPCA or any animal rescue organization.

Mary Therese (Kleber) Brehany (1932-2025)

Mary Therese (Kleber) Brehany, 92, of Beaver, passed away quietly on December 28th, 2024 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. “Therese” as she was called by those who knew her, was the devoted wife of the late James (Jim) Brehany for 50 years, until his passing in 2005, as well as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and inspiration to many.
She was born on October 6th, 1932, a daughter of the late Antonia Kanthak and Joseph Kleber. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Joseph (Fr. Cecil), John, and Raymond Kleber and husband Jim Brehany. She is survived by her loving children, Jim Brehany (Christine) of Holden, Massachusetts, Chris Brehany (Lynda) of Clifton, Virginia, Diane Van Buskirk of Indianapolis, Indiana, John Brehany (Marybeth) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Dennis Brehany in New Brighton, grandchildren Joseph Brehany (Dana), Lara Van Buskirk, Michael Brehany, Natalie O’Reilly, Patrick Brehany (Sydney), Caroline Van Buskirk, Karol Brehany, John Brehany (Monica), Lena McGovern (Tim), Liam Brehany, Andrew Brehany, Emma Brehany, Kateri Brehany, Adrien Brehany, Elisabeth Brehany, Giles Brehany, and Thomas Brehany; as well as nine great-grandchildren. She grew up in Aliquippa, graduating from Mount Gallitzin Academy. She then earned her RN Nursing Degree and practiced as a nurse at Providence Hospital in Beaver Falls. A chance meeting with Aliquippa friend Jim Brehany at a dance in early July 1955, led to him proposing that same evening, and the two married on July 16th, 1955. They initially moved to Los Angeles where Jim was working, and then back to Beaver in 1957 where they lived and raised five children: Jim, Chris, Diane, John and Dennis.

Mary supported Jim in his career at Met Life, so that he could excel. The award trips that Jim earned became part of their annual travels through which they had dear friends. In addition to juggling child transportation to music and sporting events, and “stretching a dollar” feeding the family (son Jim quipped ‘we wouldn’t eat if food was not on sale’), She volunteered at Boy and Girl Scout events, and become an excellent local tennis player, both in singles and doubles with Jim, earning many trophies. She developed her skills as a cook and baker, and the home regularly smelled of fresh-baked bread. As the children got older, she began taking an annual fishing trip with her three brothers to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.
Mary was a person of deep faith. A Catholic, Christian, she lived her faith with Jim at her side, attending Saints Peter and Paul Church, and passed it on to her children.
Therese found her true calling in the 1970’s serving in the Pro-Life Movement, a calling that would earn her and Jim (posthumously) the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. She founded the Lifeline of Southwest PA Office in Beaver in 1979 and served women in crisis pregnancies for over twenty years. She also developed a Human Life Development slide presentation which she took to most of the Beaver County high schools. Her love of children was very evident as each grandchild (17) was born. As “Grammy”, she cleared her schedule to help the family after birth, and attend graduations, birthdays and sporting events.
She moved to St Martha’s Villa in Downingtown, Pennsylvania near son John and family in 2013. She later transferred to St Martha Manor, where she lived her final years, wheelchair-bound. She always had a smile for visiting family, staff and residents of St Martha’s, and continued to love God, music, and her expanding family throughout her life.
There will be a Visitation at Noll Funeral Home, 333 3rd St, Beaver, on Friday, January 10th, 2025 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 200 3rd St, Beaver, on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10:15 a.m. followed by Internment at Beaver Cemetery on Buffalo Street, Beaver. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pennsylvanians for Human Life, https://paforhumanlife.org/

Ronald Lee Vandenberg (Passed on January 4th, 2025)

Ronald Lee Vandenberg, 66, formerly of Beaver Falls, passed away on January 4th, 2025, at Heritage Valley Medical Center in Beaver.

He was a son of the late Cyril and Esther Vandenberg, Ron grew up in a household with his three brothers, Cyril, Dennis, and Kenneth, and two sisters, Linda and Susan. In the journey of life, Ron met his beloved wife, Bertha I. (Bish) Vandenberg, at Sims Bowling Lanes, a place that held many fond memories for the couple. They shared a loving marriage of twenty years. Together, they embraced the joys of a blended family, with Ron becoming a stepfather to Joe (Crystal) Brandon and Tim Brandon and grandfather of Tyler, Quenton, Taylor, Cameron, Cody, Kenyon, Peyton, and Trenton. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews: Cyril, Cynthia, Elizabeth, Brian, John, Angelo, and Antonio.

Ronald’s creative soul led him to attend art school. His artistic talents were paralleled by his culinary expertise, which he cultivated into a successful career as a chef in New York State.

An avid fisherman, he found solace in the quiet rush of the streams and the thrill of the catch. His love for bowling continued as a favorite pastime that brought him both joy and friendship.

Ronald was known for his kindness and generosity. He extended this altruism even in passing, as an organ donor, giving the gift of life and hope to others. His legacy of giving will live on, touching the lives of many.

A celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 11th at 3 p.m. at the Christian House Baptist Church, 814 Rt #18, Aliquippa. Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.

 

Esther L. (Dotson) Stout (1942-2025)

Esther L. (Dotson) Stout, 82, formerly of Midland, passed away on January 5th, 2025, at East Liverpool Hospital.

She was born on April 18th, 1942, in Morgantown, West Virginia, a daughter of the late C.L. and Stella (Edwards) Dotson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, John “Jack” Stout, her sisters, Ruth Engleman, Lenora Allison and Eva Burnside and a brother, James Dotson. She is survived by her children, John Stout, Darla (Les) May, Tammy (Dave) Dorn and Sandra Miller, former sons-in-law, Joey Conforti and Bart Trautvetter, grandchildren: Christopher Trautvetter and Jennifer, Chadd Trautvetter and Ariel, Charlee Williams and LeRoy, Rhonda Leslie and Troy Coleman, Tiffany Faessel and Corey, Kayla Ward and Eric, Kelly Keefer and Shaun, Darrellyn Stout, Alexis Stout, Allan-Michael Conforti and Savannah, Todd Leslie and Tracey, CJ May and Katie, Amanda Charleton and Josh, and Jessica Alexander; great grandchildren: Taylor, Sal, Antonio, Allie, Rayne, Amorie, Kahlani, Tyree, Trae, Jayce, Kera, Sylas, Everett, Knox, Payton, Lillian, Aubreona, Maddox, Charley, and Case; a great-great granddaughter, Mila, a brother, Harlan (Joy) Dotson, and numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends too many to name.

Esther was the proud co-owner of Stout’s Towing and had worked for the Allegheny National Forest for many years. She was strong in her Christian faith.  She adored her family and loved spending time with them.  When she was able, Esther was fond of canning, baking, and immaculately caring for her lawn and flowers.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, January 8th from 2-4PM & 6-8PM in the GABAUER-TODD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES (Branch), 340 Third Street, Beaver.

A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Thursday, January 9th at 2 P.M.

Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Esther’s family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and staff of The Orchards of East Liverpool as well as the 4th Floor North East nursing staff at East Liverpool Hospital.

Ronald Triska (Passed on January 4th, 2025)

Ronald Triska, 73, of Rochester Township, passed away on January 4th, 2025. He was deeply loved by many. His sense of humor, his ability to make people laugh at inappropriate times, driving his wife crazy with his antics, his heart to serve, his care and concern for others, opening his home during the holidays to many international students with families abroad over the years, how proud he was of his children and grandchildren are all memories that will be cherished of him.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Gay, who loved him dearly, his daughters Morgan and Whitney, his two son-in-laws, Solo and Brian and his four grandchildren Gianna, Francesca, Malik and Aliyah. Ronald loved his cats, his family, fishing, his lunch dates with his best friend, Dr. James Logan, buying his grandchildren way too many treats (and claiming it wasn’t his fault when they got a sugar rush), playing his bass and his many mechanical pencils. Ronald asked that in his passing that this be a time of celebration of the life he lived and all the amazing memories that everyone has shared. He asked that all services would be withheld. His family is very grateful for all of the love that has been shown to them during this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.