The Herald, Sharon, PA

Local news Friday, May 31, 2002 newsie
These are the top stories in today's print edition. Pick up a copy on the newsstand or contact us for convenient home delivery.

Summaries of the week's news appear in the Sunday edition. These current and past weekly chronologies are online as are day-by-day links to past stories and deaths.



Today's death record

  • Shirley M. Bennett, 71, of 3971 Saranac Drive, South Pymatuning Township.
  • Margaret J. Horvath, 80, of 139 Sunset Road, Hermitage.
  • Melvin P. Weisel, 74, of 24 Rickert Road, West Salem Township, formerly of Pittsburgh and Mercer.


Today's obituaries
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Josephine F. White
Joseph Zalac
  Melvin P. Weisel
Margaret J. Horvath
Shirley M. Bennett

Josephine F. White
Homemaker owned craft shop, was active in Fatima

ERIE -- A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday for Josephine F. White of St. Mary's Home in Erie, formerly of 1104 Negley St., Farrell. She passed away peacefully at 10:14 p.m. Wednesday (5-29-02) in the home following an extended illness. She was 76.

Mrs. White was born Aug. 25, 1926, in Walston, Pa., a daughter of Pasquale and Mary Ann Gagliardi Funair.

She was an alumna of Punxsutawney High School Class of 1944.

A homemaker, Mrs. White enjoyed teaching crafts and previously owned her own craft shop.

She was a teachers aid at Pargny School in Farrell.

Her first place of employment was at Tar-Pac, Punxsutawney. At one time, she had worked at J.C. Penney department store and W.T. Grant Co., both Sharon. In her earlier years while living in Brookville, Pa., she was employed by Sylvania Tube Co. Mrs. White also lived in New York for a brief period and was employed by Corning (N.Y.) Glass Works.

As an active member of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Farrell, she belonged to the church Bethany Club and Altar Rosary Society.

She was a leader of Girl Scouts of America Troop 64 and Brownie Troop 81; and a den mother of a Cub Scouts group, all of Our Lady of Fatima Church. Her other memberships included the Parent Teacher Association of Washington Elementary School, Farrell, for which she served as president; and the booster club of what is now Kennedy Catholic High School, Hermitage.

She also was a member and craft instructor for Local 1197 of United Steelworkers Retirees Association.

Some of her hobbies included quilting, artisan rug hooking and baking.

Her husband, Frank Jacob White, whom she married June 28, 1947, in St. Anthony's Church, Walston, passed away April 15 of this year.

Surviving are: her four daughters, Sister Mary Ann White, Sisters of St. Joseph, Erie; Mrs. Thomas (Tomasina) White-Shaw, Allegany, N.Y.; Mrs. Dennis (Darlene) White-Natale, Middlesex Township, Butler County; and Mrs. Mark (Patrice) Granatosky, Groton, Conn. She also leaves six grandchildren, Mary Alice Shaw Buffington; Christopher M., Elizabeth Ann and Jonathon White Natale; and Eve and Joseph Granatosky. She also leaves three great-grandchildren, Tyler L., Taylor J. and Tucker S. Buffington.

Also surviving are: a sister, Mrs. Charles (Pauline) Mason, Corning; and a brother, Arthur Funair and his wife Dolores, Cathedral City, Calif.

Besides her husband, Mrs. White was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Frank Gerard White; four sisters, Theresa Fairman, Frances Link, Elizabeth Astorino and Margaret Ritz; and four brothers, Frank, Louis, Joseph and Rudy Funair.

Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Frank White Memorial Scholarship.

WHITE
    
Mrs. Frank Jacob (Josephine F.), 76, Erie, formerly of 1104 Negley St., Farrell.
    Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday (6-2-02) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon. The church Altar Rosary Society will meet at 8:30 p.m. to recite the Rosary at 8:45 p.m. Friends may also e-mail condolences to McGonigleFuneralHome@infonline.net
    Service: Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Monday (6-3-02) in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Donald E. Berdis, pastor, as celebrant. Brief prayer service at 9:45 a.m. in the funeral home.
    Interment: St. Anthony's Cemetery, Hermitage.


Joseph Zalac

Sharon Steel retiree was active in Clark Trinity U.M.

A memorial service will be held Sunday for Joseph Zalac, 67 Nora St., Clark. He died at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2002, in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System after a brief illness. He was 73.

Mr. Zalac was born Dec. 29, 1928, in Farrell to Frank Zalac and Anna Slunisky Reljanovic Zalac.

He attended Farrell area schools and worked for 25 years as a pipe fitter with the former Sharon Steel Corp.'s Farrell plant, retiring in 1984.

Mr. Zalac served in the Army in the Panama Canal.

He was an active member of Clark Trinity United Methodist Church; and belonged to Sharon Steel Retirees; and Sharpsville Men's Club.

Mr. Zalac enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards, and was an avid bird watcher.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Violet Wasser, whom he married July 10, 1965, at home; one daughter, Mrs. Michael (Leslie) Korns, New Kensington, Pa.; two sons, David Zalac, Sharpsville; and Jeffrey Zalac and his wife, Lise, Danville, Pa.; three sisters, Mrs. Mathew (Mary) Bralich, Farrell; Mrs. Jules (Josephine) Bellucci, Hermitage; and Dorothy Trikur, Sharon; and six grandchildren, Joseph Zalac, Christy Zalac, Jacob Zalac, Lacey Korns, Lindsay Korns and Michael Korns.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Pauline Duby Zalac, who died in 1962; a daughter, Wendy Zalac Johnson; and a brother, Frank Zalac.

Memorial contributions may be made to Clark Trinity United Methodist Church, 96 Charles St., Clark 16113.

ZALAC
    
Joseph, 73, of 67 Nora St., Clark.
    Calling hours: None.
    Service: Memorial service at 12:15 p.m. Sunday (6-2-02) in Clark Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Faye A. Barca, pastor, officiating. Friends may send condolences by e-mail to www.flynnfuneralhome.com
    Burial: Cremation in the funeral home crematory.
    Arrangements by JOHN FLYNN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY Inc., 2630 E. State St., Hermitage.


Melvin P. Weisel

Army veteran retired from Westinghouse in Pittsburgh

Melvin P. Weisel, 24 Rickert Road, West Salem Township, formerly of Pittsburgh and Mercer, died at 5:06 a.m. Thursday, May 30, 2002, in his home after an extended illness. He was 74.

Mr. Weisel was born Dec. 31, 1927, in Pittsburgh to Louis and Fannie Pearl Garland Weisel.

He graduated from Wilkinsburg (Pa.) High School and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering.

Mr. Weisel served from 1950 to 1952 with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

He retired in 1986 from Westinghouse Electric Corp. Research in Pittsburgh, where he worked for more than 40 years in the chemical engineering and marketing departments.

Mr. Weisel was a member of American Legion Post 159 in Mercer; and Sons of the American Revolution.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Joan P. Sulzer, whom he married Aug. 7, 1964, in Greenville; and two brothers, Harold Weisel, Bainbridge, Ga.; and Clifford Weisel, Pittsburgh.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Evelyn Krissinger and Louise Hensell; and one brother, Louis Weisel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 288 Main St., Greenville 16125.

WEISEL
    
Melvin P., 74, of 24 Rickert Road, West Salem Township, formerly of Pittsburgh and Mercer.
    Calling hours: None.
    Service: Private funeral services were held today (5-31-02) in the chapel of Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage, with the Rev. Dr. Donald P. Wilson, pastor of Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Lackawannock Township, officiating.
    Burial: Hillcrest Memorial Park.
    Arrangements by LOUTZENHISER-JORDAN COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME, 366-68 S. Main St., Greenville.


Margaret J. Horvath

Margaret J. Horvath, 139 Sunset Road, Hermitage, died at 7:40 p.m. Thursday (5-30-02) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. She was 80.

Obituary information was incomplete.

HORVATH
    
Margaret J., 80, of 139 Sunset Road, Hermitage.
    Calling hours: 9 a.m. to time of service Saturday (6-1-02) in Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Lackawannock Township. Friends may also e-mail condolences to McGonigleFuneralHome@infonline.net
    Service: Funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday in the church, with the Rev. Dr. Donald P. Wilson, pastor, officiating.
    Interment: Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Lackawannock Township.
    Arrangements by J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.


Shirley M. Bennett

St. Paul's UCC member was a S. Py Youth group founder

Shirley M. Bennett, 3971 Saranac Drive, South Pymatuning Township, died at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2002, in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. She was 71.

Mrs. Bennett was born Aug. 11, 1930, in Sharon to S. Reid Edwards and Violet Katherine Sunday Edwards.

She attended Sharon High School and was a founding member of the South Pymatuning Youth Association.

Mrs. Bennett was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Hermitage.

Her husband, Robert A. Bennett, whom she married March 27, 1948, died Oct. 11, 1998.

Surviving are: two daughters, Mrs. David E. (Roberta "Bobbie") Case, Canton, Ohio; and Mrs. Gary R. (Lori) Bateman, Duncanville, Texas; one sister, Betty Jane McAdams, Sharpsville; and four grandchildren.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Bennett was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 19 Jefferson Avenue, Sharon 16146.

BENNETT
    
Mrs. Robert A. (Shirley M.), 71, of 3971 Saranac Drive, South Pymatuning Township.
    Service: Memorial service at 10 a.m. Saturday (6-1-02) in St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Hermitage, with the Rev. Jay Gunn, pastor, officiating.
    Calling hours: Family will receive friends during a memorial gathering after the services Saturday in the church fellowship hall.
    Arrangements by SAMPLE-O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME Inc., East State Street at North Oakland Avenue, Sharon; member Selected Independent Funeral Homes and the International Order of the Golden Rule. Friends may send condolences by e-mail to Sample@infonline.net


PREVIOUS DEATHS
Look in past days' obituary files to find the full obituaries


DIEFENDERFER
    
Howard C. "Pete," 88, of 15 Davenport Farm Lane East, Stamford, Conn., formerly of Main Street, Sharpsville.
    Obituary was published 5-29-02
    Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. today (5-31-02) in DONALDSON-MOHNEY FUNERAL HOME, 124 Main St., Sharpsville.
    Service: Funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday (6-1-02) in the funeral home, with the Rev. Lee Weber, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Sharpsville, officiating.
    Interment: Riverside Cemetery, Sharpsville.


MONTELEONE
    
Frank N. Sr., 73, Grove City Road, Slippery Rock.
    Obituary was published 5-30-02
    Calling hours: 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday (6-2-02) in SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.
    Service: Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. Monday (6-3-02) in St. Peter's Church, Slippery Rock, with the Rev. Louis Pascazi, pastor of St. John's Church, Coylesville, Pa., as celebrant.
    Interment: Slippery Rock (Township) Cemetery, Butler County.



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