Robert “Bob” E. Tracy Jr., a loving, caring, and advice-giving husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully at home on Sunday, March 3^rd surrounded by his loving wife and children.

Born on December 12, 1937, in New Brighton, PA, Bob enjoyed his childhood on “Oak Hill” and graduated from New Brighton High School. He started his career at the Beaver-Lawrence County AAA Motor Club where he worked from 1956-1976 as the Business Manager. Bob then founded the Bob Tracy Insurance Agency, Vanport, Beaver, PA in 1980, serving his many clients with honesty and integrity until his retirement in 2008. A man of Christian faith, Bob was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Beaver, PA.

Bob’s love of people and his community led him to serve on numerous non-profit boards where he held various leadership positions including the New Brighton Area School Board, New Brighton School Building Authority, New Brighton Business District Authority, Beaver County Traffic Safety Council, Erie Insurance Advisory Council, Rochester Lions Club, and as President of the Bridle Oaks Homeowners Association in Venice, FL, and Terrace on the Square Condo Association, Beaver, PA.  Bob’s leadership on the Beaver County Transit Authority Board was instrumental in the strategic growth of the organization during his 34 years as a committed board member.  Bob also oversaw the reorganization of the Grove Cemetery board and operations in 2008, which has allowed this valued historic legacy to be preserved and perpetuated for future generations.

Bob and his wife Joan were snowbirds, living in both Beaver, PA and Venice, FL for over 23 years. Bob enjoyed the sunshine, golfing, and hosting many visiting friends and family in Florida. As the former owner of several boats, Bob loved sitting at the South Jetty in Venice with his first mate Joan watching the boats along the intercoastal waterway, while enjoying a McDonald’s Egg McMuffin or “gourmet” Filet-of-Fish sandwich.

Over the years, Bob enjoyed traveling with Joan to numerous places and had many wonderful moments seeing the world together.  Family was everything to Bob and he and Joan brought their children and grandchildren together for special celebrations and trips including cruises and beach vacations.

Bob’s smile, sense of humor, and way of making people feel special allowed him to have many life-long friends, in particular his golf buddies from the New Brighton Wednesday golf group and annual Getaway Golf Outings, his Erie Insurance agent colleagues who became his wonderful friends, and his weekly morning coffee group at Café Kolache where much discussion took place on solving the world’s problems.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert E. Tracy and Thelma Lane Tracy, a sister, Margaret Ellen Snowberger, a brother, James Robert Tracy, and a beloved granddaughter Anya Elyse La Mar.

Bob is survived by his wife Joan of 36 years, and his children, daughter Kelly (Ted) Marcucilli, Harrison NY, daughter Kathy (Patrick) Bingle, Beaver PA, son Rob (Cara) Tracy, New Brighton PA, stepson David (Michele) Hardesty, Vanport PA, and stepdaughter Sandra (Bob) La Mar, Pittsburgh PA.  Grandchildren Melissa Marcucilli (Dave Stahl)-NY, Aimee (Chris) Bester-NY, Annie (Andy) Grant-MA, Lana (Mike) Yoho, Chippewa PA, Ryan (Melissa) Hardesty, Chippewa PA, Tyler (Sarah) Bingle, Emsworth PA, Ryan White (Jessica Westfall), Rochester PA, Nicole (Mike) Greiner, Center Township PA, Carrie (Alex) Hill, Freedom PA, and Caleb Tracy, New Brighton PA.  Bob has eight great grandchildren, a cousin Melba Fry-OH, and two nephews, Marc (Dana) Tracy-GA, and Matthew (Stephanie) Tracy-FL, and sister-in-law Vicki Tracy-FL.

Visitation will be from 3-7 pm on Thursday, March 7^th at Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Rochester located at 502 Adams St, Rochester, PA.  Friends will also be received from 10-11 am on Friday, March 8^th, at the First Presbyterian Church, Beaver, PA, followed by a funeral service and luncheon at the church. A private burial will be held at Grove Cemetery, New Brighton.   In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory can be made to the Anya Elyse La Mar Foundation at AnyasArmy.org

Ann (Manolovich) Smith, 76, of McCandless Township, passed away on March 3, 2024 at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. She was born in Sewickley on October, 23, 1947, a daughter of the late Morris “Ace” & June Manolovich. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Rade “Ace” & June Manolovich and her beloved grandparents, “Bubba” and “Jedo” Rade and Jubica Manolovich.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 52 years, Walter R. Smith; her daughter Annie & D.R. Cupka; two sons, Walter Smith and Matthew & Kacey Smith; two grandchildren, Aden and Samantha Cupka; two sisters, Nancy and Mary, and her brother Rade & Karen Manolovich, and her nephews and cousins.

Ann was a librarian all of her life from the time she graduated high school. Her first and most favored job was at BF Jones Memorial Library, and she also worked at North Allegheny High School and Robert Morris College as a librarian. She enjoyed reading a great deal and read her Bible every day.

Friends will be received on Friday, March 8th, 2024 from 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m. in the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Aliquippa, 2345 Mill Street. A Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 10am in House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 2100 W Irwin Street, Aliquippa.

Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to B.F. Jones Memorial Library 633 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001.

Adele Marie Crognale, 83, a longtime resident of Beaver Falls, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Celebration Villa in Chippewa surrounded by loved ones. Adele was born on September 8, 1940, in Isabella PA, the daughter of Richard Coughenour and Laura Coughenour Stevenson. She was preceded in death by her husband Alfred Crognale and son Fred Crognale. She was the youngest of four sisters, Pat Beeles, Laura Robison, and Shirley Triance, who have all preceded Adele in death. She is survived by her daughter, Lori Martin (Robert), daughter-in-law, Aleene Crognale, granddaughters Megan Crognale (Aron Alber), Jennifer Sproull (Scott) and grandson David Alfred Sproull.

It is because of her maiden name that many who were close to her called her “Cokie,” even her husband.  She was known to her many nieces and nephews as “Aunt Cokie.”  Adele was beloved as a kind, caring woman who was always concerned about others and would help however she could.

At the age of 19, she married Alfred, and they soon moved to White Township in Beaver Falls, where they lived until Alfred’s passing in 2022.  For many years, Adele ran a beauty shop in the basement where regular clients would come to have their hair done, have a cup of coffee, and catch up on the latest goings on in and around Beaver Falls.  This allowed her to be at home while Fred and Lori were growing up. Later, her kindness would lead her to become a caregiver for mentally challenged adults, an occupation she held until retirement.

Adele was also known as a wonderful cook.  Her specialty was homemade spaghetti.  She would labor long and hard over the homemade pasta and the sauce.  This was a treat for many special occasions.  She also baked world class pies.  Two rules in the Crognale home were, one, that meals had to be homemade, and two, no leftovers.  She was also a legendary storyteller, and laughter was part of any dinner with Adele.  Her sense of humor was among her most endearing qualities.

Her family is very grateful to the staff of Celebration Villa Chippewa and Gateway Hospice for their loving care.

Friends will be received on Thursday, March 7 from 4pm-8pm at Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road Beaver Falls, PA. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 8 at 11am at Pathway Church at 239 Braun Road, Beaver Falls, PA.

 

Curtis Y. Frank of Meadville, PA, formerly of Beaver, passed away on March 2, 2024. He was born May 30, 1944 in Canton, OH, to Rev. Howard F. and Edith (Wilt) Yeager; adopted by Rev. Dr. James N. Frank in 1953. He was preceded in death by his parents, a dear grandmother Elsie Wilt and other grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

He is survived by his wife and soulmate of 59 years, Sally; beloved children – James Dale (Christina) Frank and Susan Jane (Kevin) Dellicker; grandsons Willard, Jacob, and Elijah; and a special nephew Matthew Clarke; two sisters – Barbara (Louis) Frischkorn and Kathleen Bacik; and a dear brother & sister-in-law – James & Rosemary Clarke; surrogate daughter Gesine (Thomas) Kutter, dear friends and cousins in Germany; and many nieces and nephews.

Curt was valedictorian and president of New Brighton Pennsylvania High School class of 1962. He earned degrees in chemistry from Wittenberg University and Bowling Green State University, both in Ohio. He married Sally Jane Clarke of Beaver in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Beaver in 1965. He taught Chemistry for 43 years in Beaver Area HS, Community College of Beaver County, Geneva College and Thiel College, all in western Pennsylvania. He also coached football and track at Beaver Area High School. Curt was active in professional education associations, worked for Beaver Borough, and served on the Beaver Area School Board.

He was a long-time active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Brighton and Trinity Lutheran Church, Meadville. He served on congregation council, taught adult Sunday School, and sang in the chancel choir in both parishes.

Curt loved to read, teach, garden, watch sports, and do crosswords and sudoku.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to ROBERT W. WAID FUNERAL HOME, INC. 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville.

Friends will be received at Trinity Lutheran Church of Meadville on Friday, March 8 from 4:00-6:00pm and Saturday from 10:00-11:00 am. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 9 at 11:00 am. A receiving line will be held at Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver PA 15009 on Sunday, March 10 from 3:00-6:00 pm. Interment will be at Beaver Cemetery and Mausoleum of Beaver in a private family ceremony on Monday, March 11. In lieu of flowers, Curt asks that donations be made to either the Beaver Area Education Foundation: 1500 5th Street Extension, Beaver, PA 15009; to Camp Lutherlyn; PO Box 355, Prospect, PA 16052; Trinity Lutheran Church: 649 Park Ave, Meadville, PA 16335; or The Wesbury Foundation: 31 North Park Ave, Meadville, PA 16335.

Elsie Pichelli Bruno, 89, of Midland, PA, formerly of Industry, PA, passed away on March 2, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on April 7, 1934, in Midland, PA, she was the daughter of the late Domenic and Rosa Presutti. Along with her parents, Elsie is preceded in death by her first husband, Louis Pichelli, 1980 and her second husband, Rudy Bruno, 1996; and her 3 brothers, Anthony, Rudy and Victor Presutti.
Elsie will be sadly missed by her children and their spouses, Joseph and Cindy Pichelli, Gloriann and
Albert Modany, and Lisa and Vince Sanfilippo; her grandchildren, Carrie (Josh) Kale, Sara (Curt) McMillen,
Alex (Brittany) Modany, Jason(Stephanie Chirumbolo) Modany, Laura (Leon Ward) Modany, Matthew Sanfilippo, and Jenna Sanfilippo; her great-grandchildren, Averie and Hadlee Kale, Madelyn and Nora McMillen, Lily Modany, and LJ Ward; brother Raymond (Lucy) Presutti, sister-in-law, Mary Castelli, and brother-in-law Ovidio Pichelli; and numerous nieces and nephews, including special niece, Karen Piccirilli. She had been a faithful member of Saint Blaise Church, of Midland, part of St. Augustine Parish, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Anthony Club, and the St. Blaise Guild. Elsie worked as an usher at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center.
Friends will be received on Wednesday March 6, 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 Avenue, Midland, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Blaise Church of St. Augustine Parish, 772 Ohio Avenue, Midland, PA. A private Interment will take place at Beaver Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Elsie’s name to St. Blaise Church, St. Augustine Parish 772 Ohio Avenue, Midland PA 15059; St. Vincent de Paul Society, 772 Ohio Avenue, Midland PA 15059, or the Carnegie Library of Midland, 61 9th Street, Midland, PA 15059.
The family would like to thank Gallagher Hospice Nurses, Andrea and Josalyn, for the compassionate care given to Elsie.

 

Patricia “Pat” A. Casbourne, 87, of Beaver, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
Born October 13, 1936, in Beaver Falls, PA, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Lillian Weagly, who preceded her in death. Pat will be sadly missed by her husband of 65 years, Charles Casbourne; her two daughters and one son-in-law, Beth and Dave Scheffler, of Brighton Township, and Cathy Casbourne, of Beaver; and her grandsons, Garrett and Brandon Scheffler. She had been a longtime resident of Beaver, as well as a faithful member of College Avenue United Methodist Church, Beaver. Pat enjoyed spending time in her yard, feeding her birds, and with her knowledge of many flowers, she planted and meticulously kept beautiful kinds.
As per Pat’s wishes, all services were private.
Private entombment took place at Beaver Cemetery Mausoleum.
Professional Arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, PA.

Rauri “Rain” Persson, 13, of West Mayfield passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024.
Rauri was born on November 6, 2010 in Beaver to Chris and Donna (Fraser) Persson. Preceding her in death is her maternal grandmother Sheila Fraser.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandfather, Richard P. Fraser, of Dedham, MA; paternal grandparents, Paul Persson Sr. of Tucson, AZ and Gail Cripps, of Port St. Lucie, FL; a sister, Amber Rae Persson, of Fort Lauderdale, FL; a brother, Joshua Riley, of Lisbon, OH; a sister, Amanda Hiltz, of Beaver Falls, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Rain was a gifted artist and a student at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. A visitation will be held Friday, March 8th from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Hill and Kunselman Funeral Home, 3801 Fourth Avenue, Beaver Falls.
In lieu of flowers, Rauri’s family would prefer donations be made to the www.thetrevorproject.org, The Trevor Project, PO Box 69232, West Hollywood, CA 90069 or sharkstewards.org, Shark Stewards, 286 Jefferson Street, San Franscisco, CA 94133.

Virginia Ruby Marshall, 78, of Rochester, peacefully passed away on March 1, 2024, in the Heritage Valley Medical Center, Beaver, after an extended illness. Virginia was born March 7, 1945, to the late Franklin Leonard and Gertrude Belle Cumberledge Boyce, in Beaver Falls, Pa. Virginia was preceded in death by her sisters, Darlene, Beverly and Jackie. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Eddie, Chucky, Bobby and Ronnie Boyce.
Virginia is survived by four sons and one daughter, Len Boyce, Cleveland, Ohio, Scott and Amy Boyce, Aliquippa, Bill Kirk, Peggy Kirk and Richard Kirk, all of Rochester. She absolutely loved and was loved by 15 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. One sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Harold Adams, of Ellwood City, two brothers, Louis Boyce, and Baden and Elmer Boyce, of Sharon, PA, as well as many nieces and nephews, and Virginia’s canine companion, Tiny. Virginia was Christian by faith. She absolutely loved and was loved by 15 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. She was a beautiful and free spirit and was loved as a wonderful mother, sister, and friend. She worked many years with various companies all in Beaver Valley. Virginia really enjoyed spending time with her family and playing cards and board games, the simple things in life.
Virginia’s wishes were to be cremated with no viewing or service.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by The William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, PA.
The family wishes memorial contributions be made to the Beaver County Humane Society.

Mary M. (Misiura) Fedoris, 90, of Moon Twp., died on February 29, 2024 in Forbes Hospital, Monroeville.  Born in Rowes Run, PA on June 15, 1933, she was the daughter of the late John & Agnes (O’Brochta) Misiura.

She is survived by her husband Joseph, 4 daughters, Lisa & Randall Roudabush, Paula Fedoris, Jodi & (John Whitfield), several grandchildren, Eric & Amanda Roudabush and Emma Roudabush & Patrick Fenelon and great grandchild Noah Roudabush.

She enjoyed being a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader in Amherst Acres as her daughters grew up and also volunteered with the Moon Township VFC Ladies Auxiliary and the local chapter of Meals on Wheels. She generously shared smiles, stories and comfort with her elder neighbors. Mary was an avid baker and home gourmet cook and turned school sick days into making the best medicine of chocolate chip cookies.  She enjoyed vacations with family in Southampton, NY and Kiawah Island, SC.

Friends will be received on Tuesday March 5 from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM in The Huntsman Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Moon Twp, 1522 Coraopolis Hts. Road, and Private Committal and entombment will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Moon Township.

A memorial mass will be held at a later date at St. Margret Mary’s Church in Moon Township where Mary was a parishioner.

Joseph Kopac, 96, passed away on Tuesday, March 2, 2024. Born in Ambridge, PA, on March 12, 1927, he was the son of the late Nikola and Mary Kopac. He was preceded in death by five brothers, Nick and George Kopac, Steve, Andrew, and Michael Bosnak, and six sisters; Daisy Kopac, Helen (Bosnak) Nestor and Ann (Bosnak) Nestic, Catherine (Bosnak) Yerzyk, Barbara (Bosnak) McCauley and Mary (Bosnak) Zimmerman. For all his accomplishments, nothing compares to his love and devotion to his wife of 73 years, Jean (Wrotny) Kopac, sons Joseph (Linda) Kopac, and John Kopac, daughters, Kathy Pruszenski, Carolyn (Jim) Migliore, MaryAnn (Dino) Zegarelli, and Georgette Kopac (Tony), nine grandchildren, Joe and Mike Pruszenski, Renee Migliore, John, Lory, and Julie Zegarelli, Joey Kopac and Greg Murgenovich and Jason Murgenovich (deceased) and thirteen great grandchildren. We will all miss him deeply.He served our country during World War II in the US Army and was a member of Baden American Legion Post 641. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and a warm day sitting on the porch. As a young boy, his picture was taken on the streets of Ambridge in an article featured in Life magazine that is currently hanging at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Everybody knew him as “Putsy” for his self-taught ability to fix anything and everything.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, from 4-8 PM in the Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge. Departing prayers will take place at the funeral home at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM at Saint Luke the Evangelist Church, Ambridge. Burial will follow at Good Samaritan Cemetery in Fair Oaks where Joseph will receive full military honors.