Dec 11, 2013

Richard J. Evans, 72, of Wellsville, Ohio, formerly of Burgettstown, died Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

He was a son of the late Bruce A. and Ann Marie Moore Evans.

Canonsburg resident was hospital volunteer

Ann M. Grassi, 93, of Canonsburg, formerly of Houston, passed away at 2:17 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2013, in her home.

She was born March 7, 1920, in Tennessee, a daughter of the late Ellwood and Zula Parsons Lee.

Mrs. Grassi was Protestant.

In her youth, she was a fashion model who posed for one of the first color photographs made for an advertisement by Kodak.

She was a hostess at the former Ernie’s Delicatessen at South Hills Village, a homemaker and avid card player.

Mrs. Grassi lived in Houston since 1953 and in Canonsburg for the past seven years.

She was very meticulous about her home, dress and parties, and enjoyed a good martini.

Mrs. Grassi was a volunteer with the Ladies Auxiliary of Canonsburg General Hospital.

On August 10, 1948, she married Ercole “Art” Grassi, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Marie Spiker of Eighty Four and Edna Nixon of Panama City, Fla.; a son, Nelson Ercole (Sheila) Grassi of Charlotte N.C.; son-in-law Joe Shook (Stacy Proia) of Houston; 12 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are a daughter, Claudette Grassi Shook, who passed away August 8, 2012; a sister, Mary LoRocco, who died March 1, 2008; and a granddaughter, Carla Spiker.

At Mrs. Grassi’s request, there will be no public visitation. Services with Pastor Nathan Miller officiating and interment in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township, will be private for family members.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Salandra Funeral Service Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120. To view or extend condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.

Enjoyed spending time with family

Charles E. Lemley Sr., 64, of Waynesburg, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 10, 2013, after a lengthy illness, with his family by his side.

He was born July 25, 1949, in Waynesburg, a son of the late Esther Crouch Lemley and Robert Lemley Sr.

In March 1969, he married Ellen Tuttle, who survives.

Mr. Lemley was the beloved father of Charles Lemley Jr. (Tammy) of Waynesburg, Joe Usher of Waynesburg, Jenny Lemley of Waynesburg, Shelley Rickard (George) of Waynesburg and Tammy Wilson (Kevin) of McClellandtown; loving grandfather of 11; and great-grandfather of 18.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, are a son, Daniel Usher, and two brothers, Grant Lemley and Robert Lemley Jr.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was a hunter and outdoorsman.

At the request of the deceased, there will be no public viewing. Family and friends are welcome to attend a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 14, in Throckmorton United Methodist Church, 225 Preachers Road, Waynesburg, with the Rev. William Parker officiating. Arrangements are being handled by Behm Funeral Homes Inc., Waynesburg. Condolences may be offered at www.behmfh.com.

Eric S. Matta, 33, of McDonald, passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2013, in Canonsburg General Hospital.

Arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Thomas-Little Funeral Service Inc., 314 West Lincoln Avenue, McDonald. Complete arrangements will be announced in a later edition.

U.S. Army veteran

William L. McKown Sr., 92, of Mt. Lebanon, formerly of Washington, died Monday, December 9, 2013.

He was born November 16, 1921, in Canonsburg, a son of the late William B. and Mable Luellen McKown.

On August 10, 1956, he married Beverly Hugus McKown, who survives.

Mr. McKown was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a son, William L. (Bonnie) McKown Jr. of Finleyville; two daughters, Sue Ellen Meyer of Presto and Evelyn McKown of Zanesville, Ohio; two sisters, Martha Klink and Julia Garbrandt; five grandchildren, April (Jason) Cisson, Megan (fiancé Jack Garrett) McKown, Shanna Meyer, Michael Meyer II and Brandon McKown; and three great-grandchildren, Colten, Nicholas and Tessa.

Deceased is a sister, Wiletta Connor.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Warchol Funeral Home Inc., 3060 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, 412-221-3333, where a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 14, with the Rev. John Dykstra officiating. Interment to follow in Forest Lawn Garden, McMurray, with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project.

View and add condolences at www.warcholfuneralhome.com.

Eleanor S. Messer, 84, of Bentleyville, died Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Greenlee Funeral Home, 619 Main Street, Bentleyville. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.

Canon-McMillan High School graduate

Thaddeus J. “Tad” Paterra, 33, of Canonsburg, passed away unexpectedly Monday, December 9, 2013, in San Diego, Calif.

He was born June 20, 1980, in Canonsburg, a son of Thaddeus P. “Tad” and April L. Maffio Paterra of Canonsburg.

Mr. Paterra lived most of his life in Canonsburg, where he was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church.

He was a 1998 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School. He played baseball and enjoyed music and fantasy football. Mr. Paterra attended Washington & Jefferson College and earned a business degree from California University of Pennsylvania.

He was in sales and served with the U.S. Army.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Deceased are his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Dorothy Dager Maffio, and his paternal grandparents, Emidio and Rosanna Melucci Paterra.

Friends and family are welcome at a date and time to be announced in Salandra Funeral Service Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120. To view or extend condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.

Waynesburg University graduate loved music

Angenette “Annie” Stellavato, 31, of Washington, died unexpectedly Monday, December 2, 2013.

She was born May 7, 1982, in Washington, a loving daughter of Alfred D. “Mogan” Stellavato and Heidi A. Ayre Stellavato of Washington.

Ms. Stellavato was a 2000 graduate of Trinity High School and a 2005 graduate of Waynesburg University with a degree in psychology.

She was a Girl Scout, played softball for six years in Washington and played on a softball team in New Castle in 2013. She loved music and attended many concerts. She was a hard worker and loyal friend that had a dry sense of humor and a beautiful smile.

Surviving, in addition to her parents, are a brother, Neil (Jona) Fanase; a niece, Lily Fanase; aunts Sandra Stellavato and Pamela King; and several cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 14, in John Wesley United Methodist Church, 35 Central Avenue, Washington, with the Rev. Harold L. Knappenberger Jr. and the Rev. Debra Mason co-officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.

Washington Hospital retiree

Margaret K. Ackley Thomas, 92, of Wheeling, W.Va., formerly of Claysville, died Wednesday, December 11, 2013, in Liza’s Place, Wheeling.

She was born July 30, 1921, in Greene County, a daughter of the late William Ackley and Bertha Hewitt Ackley. She was the last survivor of her immediate family.

Mrs. Thomas retired from Washington Hospital, where she worked as a physical therapist aide for many years.

She was a lifelong member of Dutch Fork Christian Church, Claysville, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She was always quick to help anyone in need.

Mrs. Thomas was a Democratic Committee Woman for Donegal Township, then spent many years working on the election board.

Surviving are two daughters, Phyllis A. Tustin of Claysville and Joyce R. Mosa of Wheeling; a grandson, Cody J. Tustin and his wife, Laura, of Broomfield, Colo.; a great-grandson, Zak Tikaani Tustin of Broomfield; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to her parents, are her husband, Harold O. Thomas, whom she married February 26, 1946, in West Middletown, and who died in 1992; two brothers, John Ackley and Ray Ackley; and five sisters, Edith, Josephine Lough, Stella Cacia, Verna Martin and Nora Calvert.

There will be no visitation. A memorial service in memory of Mrs. Thomas will be held at a later date in Dutch Fork Christian Church, Claysville.

The family suggests memorials be made to Dutch Fork Christian Church, 48 Dutch Fork Road, Claysville, PA 15323.

Arrangements by Kepner Funeral Home, 166 Kruger Street, Elm Grove, Wheeling, W.Va., 304-242-2311.

World traveler

Mary Carolyn Wharton, 82, of East Washington, died Tuesday, December 10, 2013, in Southmont of Presbyterian SeniorCare with her sister and niece by her side.

She was born November 30, 1931, a daughter of the late Robert Blaine and Annie Laurie Martin Wharton.

She was a student at East Washington Grade School and a 1949 graduate of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy in Wheeling, W.Va.

Ms. Wharton attended University of Pittsburgh and California University of Pennsylvania.

She had a true passion for travel and was fortunate to have traveled all over the world. She began her career at AAA in Washington and later worked at TWA in Pittsburgh. In 1963, she followed her travel industry career to San Francisco, Calif., then to Chicago, Ill., where she opened her successful travel school.

To remain near her family, Ms. Wharton eventually moved to Wheeling, where she owned and operated Plaza Travel, until retiring in 1996. She was experienced and knowledgeable in planning world-class vacations for her clients and was well-regarded in the travel industry.

Ms. Wharton was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, North Shore Chapter.

She was dearly loved by her family, and is survived by a sister, Annie Laurie Wharton Foust of Washington; two brothers, Robert B. Wharton and John R. (Becky) Wharton, both of Washington; several nieces and nephews, Thomas Slater (Katie) Foust Jr., Annie Laurie Foust, Mary Carolyn Foust (Tim) Kinskey, William Michael (Jill) Foust, Emily Wharton (David) Koehler and Susan Wharton (Steve) Robertson; along with 12 grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Mollie, Tommy, Grace, Elizabeth, Charlie, Nicholas, Marshall, Jack, Ian, Sara, Grace and Joshua.

Deceased is Thomas Slater Foust, who was like a brother to her.

Friends will be received from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 14, in Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Washington, with the Rev. Lou Pascazi as celebrant. Interment will follow in Washington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be designated to Alzheimer’s Disease Research at Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.

Condolences may be expressed at and photos uploaded to www.familyremembers.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor and Lawrence K. Donovan, funeral director