The Herald, Sharon, PA



Local news Sunday, Nov. 24, 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

  • Verla M. Bradian, 66, of 2861 Mercer-West Middlesex Road, West Middlesex.
  • Anna T. Caracci, 66, of 2275 Saratoga Drive, Hermitage.
  • Paul L. Clark, 86, of 379 state Route 7, Brookfield.
  • Henry C. Johnson Jr., 87, of 303 W. North St., Mercer.
  • Mary Frances Starkey Och, 94, Niles, Ohio, formerly of Warren, Ohio.
(Wait a moment for this page to finish loading before clicking a name link)
Anna T. Caracci
Henry C. Johnson Jr.
Mary Frances Starkey Och
  Verla M. Bradian
Paul L. Clark
Ann I. Toles

Anna T. Caracci
Notre Dame member

was Delphi Packard retiree

Anna T. Caracci of 2275 Saratoga Drive in Hermitage, passed away unexpectedly at 3:50 p.m. Friday (11-22-02) in her residence. She was 66.

Mrs. Caracci was born April 9, 1936, in Sharon, a daughter of John C. Wanacheck Sr. and Helen Costura Wanacheck.

She was a 1954 alumna of Sharon High School.

Mrs. Caracci at one time worked for the former Sharon Steel Corp.'s Farrell plant and later, for 31 years, at Delphi Packard Electric Systems, Warren, Ohio.

She belonged to Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage.

She also worked for Magnotto's Shop 'n Save store in Hermitage in the Lottery Customer Service Department.

An avid bowler, Mrs. Caracci participated in numerous bowling tournaments and belonged to several bowling leagues throughout the Shenango Valley. She was a charter member of the Shenango Valley Women's Bowling Association, serving as their secretary for more than 20 years, and also holding offices as a past president and vice-president.

Her husband, Louis Caracci, whom she married on June 16, 1956, survives at home.

She also leaves: three daughters, Faith A. Forgacs and her husband Tom, Hubbard; Debbie L. Bashor, Hermitage; and Tina L. McGregor and her husband James, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; three sons, Louis D. Caracci Jr. and his wife Lorraine, Rocky Mount, N.C.; George A. Caracci and his wife Dawn, Laurel, Md.; and John M. Caracci and his wife Lisa, South Pymatuning Township; and 12 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, John C. Wanacheck.

Memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, 555 Grant St., Suite 425, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219.


CARACCI

    Louis (Anna T.), 66, of 2275 Saratoga Drive, Hermitage.
    Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. today (11-24-02) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon. Friends may e-mail condolences to McGonigleFuneralHome@infonline.net
    Service: Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Monday (11-25-02) in Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage, with the Rev. Jason Glover, parochial vicar, as celebrant.
    Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage.


Henry C. Johnson Jr.

Real estate broker was

Trinity Presbyterian trustee

Henry C. Johnson Jr., 303 W. North St., Mercer, died at 8:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, 2002, in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System following an extended illness. He was 87.

Mr. Johnson was born July 15, 1915, in Mercer to H. Clay Johnson and Inez Wilson Johnson.

A graduate of Grove City College, he was a self-employed broker with ERA Johnson Real Estate in Mercer for 35 years.

Mr. Johnson belonged to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Mercer for which he was a former member of the Board of Trustees and served as the Sunday school treasurer. He also belonged to the church choir for more than 50 years.

His wife, the former Laura Main, whom he married on July 20, 1946, survives at the residence.

Also surviving are: two sons, Henry C. "Hal" Johnson III, Greenville; and Walter Bruce Johnson and his wife Midge, Mercer; and two grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Johnson and Tyler Clay Johnson.

Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Bruce Johnson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Disease in care of St. Vincent Geriatric Health Service, 232 W. 25th St., Erie 16544.


JOHNSON

    Henry C. Jr., 87, of 303 W. North St., Mercer.
    Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday (11-26-02) in CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME Inc., 144 S. Pitt St., Mercer; and 10 a.m. to time of service Wednesday (11-27-02) in Trinity Presbyterian Church, Mercer.
    Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the church with the Rev. William P. Crooks, pastor, officiating.
    Interment: Findley Township Cemetery.


Mary Frances Starkey Och

Learning center founder was community advocate

WARREN, Ohio -- Mary Frances Starkey Och of Shepherd of the Valley Nursing Home, Niles, Ohio, formerly of Warren, died at 6:55 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, in St. Joseph's Health Care Center. She was 94.

Mrs. Och, who was well-known as founder and operator of Mary F. Och Learning Center in Warren Township, was born Nov. 15, 1908, in Chester, W.Va., a daughter of Alfred and Rose Tallmadge Skinner.

She earned a master's degree in nursing from University of Pittsburgh and came to Trumbull County in 1932 to work at what was then Trumbull Hospital.

In 1945, she became school nurse in LaBrae School District, where she set up an educational nursing program beyond traditional first-aid service, encompassing counseling and "life education" programs for students. She involved community members and students in a service organization that provided clothes, food, money, dental and health care to disadvantaged students and their families. During that time, she also began working with disturbed children at the Medical Center Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.

She actively campaigned to improve living conditions in the community, studying zoning at the University of Cincinnati for two summers. As a result, Leavittsburg had one of the first zoning ordinances in the United States.

She became aware that many bright children were having trouble in the family living and health classes she taught and that others were failing audio and visual screenings without reason. With encouragement from the district's superintendent, A.L. Bascom, she began a search to discover the causes. She visited universities in the realms of speech therapy and hearing and visual perception. She spent three summers of special child behavior study at Western Reserve University and earned a master's in education from Kent (Ohio) State University.

She was certified as a developmental specialist in the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia. She began teaching developmental classes, based on exercise and coordination in the school system. It was her strong belief that in order to learn, a child must progress in stages that include eye-to-hand coordination, eye muscle control, knowing right from left and other coordinations.

She authored an internationally respected book on the subject and, in 1976, opened the center, at which it is estimated about 9,000 children were helped, prior to her retirement in 1996. As a member of First Presbyterian Church of Warren, she served as a deacon and elder for several years. She also belonged to Cortland-Bazetta Historical Society and Retired Teachers Association. She served on the board of Rebecca Williams and was founder of the Utendus Club.

Her first husband, Wilbur Starkey, whom she married in 1932, died in 1960. Her second husband, William R. Och, whom she married in 1961, died in 1988.

She leaves: a daughter, Carol Starkey Petvai, Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; two stepsons, Gordon Och, Shreveport, La.; and Donald Felder, Lake Worth, Calif.; two grandsons, John Victor and James William Petvai, both Wappingers Falls; five stepgrandchildren; a sister-in-law, Margaret Henn, Warren; four nieces, Dorothy Skinner Bechtol, Coshocton; Mary Lou Skinner Sample, Hermitage; Lois Henn Lickwar and Charlene Henn Cuckovich, both Lordstown, Ohio; two nephews, two grandnephews, a grandniece, three great-grandnieces and two great-grandnephews.

Two brothers, Calvin Skinner and Byron T. Skinner are deceased.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.


Verla M. Bradian
Homemaker was active

in fraternal lodges

Verla M. Bradian of 2861 Mercer-West Middlesex Road, West Middlesex, died at 4:17 p.m. Friday (11-22-02) in UPMC Horizon, Farrell. She was 66.

Mrs. Bradian was born Dec. 5, 1935, in Sharon, a daughter of Michael and Helen Bowman Shannon.

She was a homemaker.

Her memberships included Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion, for which she served as a chaplain; Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks; Women of the Moose; and Croatian Fraternal Union.

Mrs. Bradian enjoyed playing bingo and dancing.

Her husband, Theodore J. Bradian Jr., whom she married in 1960, died on Nov. 1, 1990.

Survivors include: her mother, Helen Shannon; a daughter, Jill Swogger, Brookfield; one sister, Kathy Lith, Transfer; one brother, Gary Shannon, Huntsville, Ala.; and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father.

BRADIAN
    Mrs. Theodore J. (Verla M.) Jr., 66, of 2861 Mercer-West Middlesex Road, West Middlesex.
    Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday (11-25-02) in MADASZ FUNERAL HOME Inc., 6923 Warren-Sharon Road, Brookfield.
    Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Tuesday (11-26-02) in the funeral home with the Rev. Cindy Swogger, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Sharon, officiating.


Paul L. Clark
Sharon Tube retiree

played saxophone, clarinet

Paul L. Clark of 379 state Route 7, Brookfield, died at 5:21 p.m. Friday (11-22-02) in his residence. He was 86.

Mr. Clark was born Sept. 17, 1916, in Brookfield, a son of James and Lillian Bendell Clark.

He was a 1934 graduate of Brookfield High School. Mr. Clark retired in 1981 as a craneman from Sharon Tube Co., where he had worked for many years.

He was a member of Brookfield United Methodist Church.

Paul was also a musician, playing saxophone and clarinet with the bands of Jim Harkless, Bud Anderson, Johnnie Martone and Emil Bossick.

His wife, the former Gilberta V. Davidson, whom he married on March 23, 1946, died Feb. 15, 1992.

Survivors include: a daughter, Mrs. Herb (Cindy) Guthrie, Wheatland; two grandchildren, Paul and Heather Pipic; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Lyndon James Clark; a brother, Harlan Clark; and a sister, Donna Bluman Hackett.

Memorial contributions may be made to Club Pet Adopt-A-Pet, 20 Schaller Road, Transfer 16154.


CLARK

    Paul L., 86, of 379 state Route 7, Brookfield.
    Calling hours: Private.
    Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday (11-27-02) in Brookfield United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dennis Bewley, pastor, officiating.
    Burial: Brookfield Township Cemetery.
    Arrangements by MADASZ FUNERAL HOME Inc., 6923 Warren-Sharon Road, Brookfield.


Ann I. Toles



TOLES
    Ann I., 76, New Bedford
    Calling hours: 5 p.m. to time of service today (11-24-02) in W. WAYNE CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME, 3126 Main St., West Middlesex.

Service: Funeral service at 6 p.m. today in the funeral home



Previous days' headlines for 2002 // 2001 // 2000 // 1999 // 1998 // 1997
Go to TOP // Herald Local news // Herald Home page



Questions/comments: online@sharon-herald.com

Copyright ©2002 The Sharon Herald Co. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or retransmission in any form is prohibited without our permission.