Obituaries 1-10-14

Frances Clark Frances Mountsier Clark, 93, of Mt. Lebanon, formerly of Bellevue and wife of the late Clarence "Bill" Clark, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Mrs. Clark had been an elementary school teacher in Bellevue and Mt. Lebanon. She is survived by two daughters, Jean Hykes and her husband James and Catherine Gerhold and her husband Wayne; five grandchildren, Steven Hykes, Brian Hykes and his wife Jennifer, Sarah Beckley and her husband Aaron, Benjamin Gerhold and his wife Kathleen and Christine Zahorchak and her husband Jeffrey; and sister-in-law of John Clark and Jean Gerken. There was no visitation. Donations are suggested to Cedars Foundation, 4363 Northern Pike, Monroeville, PA 15146. Arrangements were made by the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon.Samuel Stroh Samuel Y. Stroh, 90, of Bellevue, husband of the late Nancy Stroh, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. Mr. Stroh was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served during World War II. He was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and opened his practice in downtown Pittsburgh, where he retired with 50 years of service. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Foundation, Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh Athletic Club, Teutonic Mannerchor German Club and a lifetime member of the Shriners and Masons. He was the former chairman of the board for Divine Providence Hospital and former chairman of Wellfleeter Condos in MA. He was preceded in death by his longtime companion, Marion Martin. There was no visitation and services and burial were private. Donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15205. Arrangements were made by the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon.Wanda Wisniewski Wanda H. Wisniewski, 87, of Pittsburgh, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Mrs. Wisniewski was an avid Steelers fan. She is survived by three children, Richard Wisniewski and his wife Alice, Dan Wisniewski and his wife Debra and Lorraine LePant, all of Seattle, WA; her sister, Val Malecki; eight grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Hattie Boczkowski. Friends were received at H.P. Brandt Funeral Home, Ross Township. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the Church of the Assumption on Saturday.Leslie Yargar Leslie L. Yargar, 98, of Bellevue, wife of the late Nelson Yargar Sr., died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Mrs. Yargar had been a nurse at Suburban General Hospital and was a member of the National Society of DAR. She was a longtime member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Bellevue. She is survived by her son, Nelson Wayne Yargar and his wife Barbara; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Ruth Smith. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Leslie Ann Bertram and her husband Earl. Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon. Services were held in Emanuel Lutheran Church on Saturday. Burial was in Rockland Cemetery, Venango County. Donations are suggested to her church at 10 N. Fremont Ave., Bellevue, PA 15202.Rita Scanlon Rita Hillgrove Scanlon, 96, of Brighton Heights, wife of the late William J. Scanlon, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. She is survived by her daughter, Maureen Zingerman and her husband Steve of Glenfield; her son-in-law, Jack Fillippa; five grandchildren, John and his wife Kim, Thomas and his wife Lori and Patrick Fillippa and his wife Deidre, Heather Stover and George "G.W." Nowack; and six great-grandchildren, Corey, Chelsea, Taylor, Justin, Aidan and Killian. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathleen Fillippa; and six siblings, John, Katherine, Madeleine, William, Adelaide and Joseph. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the Church of the Assumption on Monday. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Salvation Army, Western PA Division, P.O. Box 742, Carnegie, PA 15106.Richard Zilaitis Richard J. Zilaitis, 82, of Shaler Township, husband of the late Joan Phillips Zilaitis, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. Mr. Zilaitis was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He worked for USPS for more than 30 years. He is survived by three children, Joseph J. Zilaitis and his wife Katherine of Economy, Sheila A. Gruber and her husband Daniel of Warrendale and Richard P. Zilaitis and his wife Mary of Shaler Township; three sisters, Marie Festa, Patricia Johnson and Lorrain Walsh; three grandchildren, Jacob, Joanie and Ricky Zilaitis; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Edward Zilaitis. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in St. Bonaventure Church on Friday. Burial was in St. Augustine Cemetery, Shaler. Contributions are suggested to the American Lung Association, 810 River Ave., Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.Mary Ann Graf Mary Ann Graf — teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer and founder of the historic Priory Hotel — passed away peacefully from complications of lung disease on Jan. 8, 2014. She was the beloved wife of Edward L. Graf, loving mother of John E. (Suzanne) Graf of Ben Avon, Stephen L. (Andrea) Graf of Ben Avon, and Timothy J. (Karen) Graf of Alexandria VA, Mary Ann was also the doting "Oma" to grandchildren Laura, Will, Max, Charlie, Josh, Garrett, Ella Rose and Declan Graf. She was preceded in death by her sister Arlene Spiegel and her brother-in-law John Spiegel, Esq., as well as her parents, Earl and Margaret Johnston. Mary Ann was also sister-in-law to Gail Hodgins and to Denis (Carole) Graf, and aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was the first kindergarten teacher at Avonworth School District and later served as a CCD instructor at Sacred Heart Church in Emsworth. She lived in Ben Avon for over 30 years, where her volunteer activities included Avon Club, the Ben Avon Fall Festival, and the "Music and Arts in ACORD" festival in Avonworth Park. She was a founding member of the Ben Avon Area Historical Association, and helped to save and restore the original Dickson Log Cabin. She served as board president of the North Boroughs YMCA. Friends will be received at McDonald Linn Funeral Home, Avalon, on Friday, Jan. 10, from 2–4 p.m., and 6 p.m.–9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 154 Orchard Avenue, Emsworth, on Saturday, at 10 a.m. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers are suggested to either the Ben Avon Area Historical Association or Brothers Brother Foundation, 1200 Galveston Ave., Pittsburgh, 15212.. About the Author