Today's obituaries
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The following obituary is being reprinted from Friday to correct information reported to The
Herald.
Matthew 'Matt' E. Frankovitch Sr.
Farrell, independent sports star was county hall of famer
PITTSBURGH -- Matthew "Matt" E. Frankovitch Sr. of 36 Cornell Place, Pittsburgh, formerly of Lee Avenue in Farrell and Victory Drive in Sharpsville, passed away at 1:55 a.m. on Thursday (10-3-02) in St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was 85.
Mr. Frankovitch was born Feb. 10, 1917, in Farrell, a son of Steven and Mary Corinich Frankovitch.
He was a 1935 alumnus of Farrell High School, where he was a starting guard for the football team. He was also the leading scorer on the 1935 Farrell basketball team that won 17 straight games before being upset by Erie East in the District 10 championship game.
In the late 1930s, Matt was one of Shenango Valley's outstanding basketball players in independent-league and tournament competition. He was also an outstanding third baseman in softball for the Farrell Croatian Club in the Federation of Clubs League and played for other independent teams in the area. Mr. Frankovitch was enshrined in the Mercer County Hall of Fame in 1991.
He was employed by the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp., where he worked for 22 years as a copper worker, retiring in 1977. Previously he had worked for the former Trinity Industries-Greenville Rail Car Division and the former National Castings Division of Midland-Ross Corp. in Sharon.
Mr. Frankovitch was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Farrell; and the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 126; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5286, both Farrell.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the Philippines, achieving the rank of corporal.
His wife, the former Mary Vaglica, whom he married Thanksgiving Day in 1951, passed away on Christmas Eve in 1973.
He is survived by: his son, Matthew E. Frankovitch Jr., with whom he lived in the Mount Lebanon section of Pittsburgh.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Frank and Steven Frankovitch; and two sisters, Pauline and Helen Morgan.
Memorial contributions may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5286, 1233 Idaho St., Farrell 16121.
FRANKOVITCH
Matthew "Matt" E. Sr., 85, of 36 Cornell Place, Pittsburgh, formerly of Lee Avenue, Farrell; and Victory Drive, Sharpsville.
Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday (10-6-02) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon. Church Rosary service at 8:45 p.m. Friends may e-mail condolences to McGonigleFuneralHome@infonline.net
Service: Funeral Mass at noon Monday (10-7-02) in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Donald E. Berdis, pastor, as celebrant. Brief prayer service at 11:15 a.m. in the funeral home prior to leaving for the church.
Interment: St. Anthony's Cemetery, Hermitage, with committal prayers in its chapel prior to burial. Full military honors will be provided by the Honor Guard of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5286, Farrell.
Elmer A. Gurtner
WWII vet, railroad retiree was Pulaski Twp. supervisor
Elmer A. Gurtner, Mercer Road, Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, died at 7:58 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002, in UPMC Horizon, Farrell, after an extended illness. He was 75.
Mr. Gurtner was born April 12, 1927, in Pulaski to George W. Gurtner and Sadie B. Drischler Gurtner.
He retired in 1989 after 40 years of service with the Pennsylvania Railroad, later known as Conrail, for which he was a block operator.
He was a former Pulaski Township supervisor for 12 years.
A Navy veteran, he served during World War II on the USS Bordelon in the Pacific theater as a Fireman Second Class.
His hobbies included being a friend to the Amish community.
Surviving are: his wife, the former Esther Hemming, whom he married Jan. 12, 1952, at the residence; two daughters, Karen Walzer and her husband Daniel, Pulaski; and Kristen Robinson and her husband Larry, West Middlesex; two sons, Jeffrey M. Gurtner and his wife Elaine; and Mark A. Gurtner and his wife Deborah; two sisters, Georgianna Gurtner and Evelyn Gurtner; and one brother, George Gurtner, all Pulaski.
The love of his life were his grandchildren. They are Jennifer, Jeffrey, Jessica and Ryan Gurtner; Amy and Anna Walzer; and Chelsea and Lauren Robinson. He enjoyed attending their events and caring for them. He also leaves his favorite dog, Andy; and his favorite cat, Max.
Mr. Gurtner was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Betty Denny, Barbara Smith and Dorothy Stefanak; and one brother, Carl Gurtner.
Memorial contributions may be made to Monsignor Geno Monti School of Our Lady of Fatima, 1225 Union St., Farrell 16121.
GURTNER
Elmer A., 75, Mercer Road, Pulaski Township, Lawrence County.
Calling hours: 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday (10-6-02) in SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 310 W. Neshannock Ave., New Wilmington. Prayer service at 7:30 p.m.
Service: Mass of Christian burial at 9:30 a.m. Monday (10-7-02) in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Donald E. Berdis, pastor, as celebrant. Procession will leave the funeral home at 8:45 a.m. for the church.
Interment: Fair Oaks Cemetery, New Wilmington, with full military honors by the New Castle Area Honor Guard.
Richard James Rodgers
Air Force veteran
worked at Sawhill
Richard James Rodgers of 849 N. Water Ave., Hermitage, died of natural causes Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002. He was 69.
Born on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 1933, in Chicora, Butler County, Mr. Rodgers was a son of the late Benjamin and Irene Hillard Rodgers.
He had worked as a pickler at the former Sawhill Tubular in Wheatland for 21 years.
Mr. Rodgers was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 327 in Sharon. He was of the Catholic faith.
He served from 1950 to 1954 in the U.S. Air Force.
Richard is survived by: his former wife, Marilyn Rodgers, Hubbard; two daughters, Cheryl, wife of Kevin Cole, Brick, N.J.; and Barbara, wife of Randy Como, Volant; a grandson, Brock Como, also Volant; and a sister, Madeline Brokowski, Parker, Clarion County.
Besides his parents, Mr. Rodgers was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Comai.
RODGERS
Richard James, 69, of 849 N. Water Ave., Hermitage.
Calling hours: 2 p.m. to time of service Sunday (10-6-02) in HAROLD W. STEVENSON FUNERAL HOME, 264 E. State St., Sharon.
Service: Funeral service at 4 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.
Interment: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.
Ann Sereday
Ann Sereday, 619 S. Mercer Ave., Hermitage, died at 4:10 p.m. Friday (10-4-02) in Nugent Convalescent Home, Hermitage. She was 85.
Obituary information was incomplete.
SEREDAY
Ann, 85, of 619 S. Mercer Ave., Hermitage.
Arrangements will be announced by JOHN A. PALISIN FUNERAL HOME, 86 Maple Drive, Hermitage.
PREVIOUS DEATHS
Look in past days' obituary files to find the full obituaries
GILLESPIE
Mrs. Robert (Mary Lou), 81, of 800 Linden St., Sharon.
Obituary was published 10-3-02
Calling hours: Were 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday (10-4-02) in STEPHEN J. SHERMAN FUNERAL HOME, 2201 Highland Road, Hermitage.
Service: Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. today (10-5-02) in St. Joseph's Church, Sharon, with the Rev. Marc Stockton, parochial vicar, as celebrant.
Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, Hermitage.
LESNETT
Mrs. Elmer R. (Nina M.), 86, Coolspring Township, formerly of 802 Mercer Road, Delaware Township.
Obituary was published 10-4-02
Calling hours: Were 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday (10-4-02) in ROBERT L. SNYDER FUNERAL HOME Ltd., 169 Second St., Fredonia.
Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. today (10-5-02) in the funeral home, with the Rev. Ronald Harbaugh, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Delaware Township, officiating.
Interment: With committal service in Delaware (Township) Cemetery.
MILLER
Mrs. Roy Russell (Helen Elizabeth Stayduhar), 86, formerly of 300 N. Charleston Road, Sharpsville.
Obituary was published 10-3-02
Calling hours: 9 a.m. to time of service today (10-5-02) in CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME Inc., 144 S. Pitt St., Mercer.
Service: Funeral service at 10 a.m. today in the funeral home, with the Rev. Lester P. Thornton, chaplain of Grove Manor, Grove City, officiating.
Interment: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.
UHRIN
Bart M. Sr., 90, formerly of 72 Cossitt Road, West Salem Township.
Obituary was published 10-4-02
Calling hours: Were 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday (10-4-02) in LOUTZENHISER-JORDAN FUNERAL HOME, 366-68 S. Main St., Greenville.
Service: Mass of Christian burial at 1 p.m. today (10-5-02) in St. Michael Church, Greenville, with Monsignor Andrew H. Karg, pastor, as celebrant.
Burial: With committal in St. Michael Cemetery, Greenville.
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