Obituaries 1-11-13

M.L. "Petey" Hager On December 27, Petey passed away quietly at the age of 89 in Sykesville, MD. Born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1923, she attended Bellevue High School, then Muskingum University, graduating with a degree in Home Economics. A lifelong musician, Petey played the cello with the Memphis, Nashville and McKeesport symphonies as well as the North Boroughs Philharmonic. She was known as an avid tennis player, gracious hostess and very creative in the arts. Her 40-year, real estate career epitomized her love of people by finding them a house which lovingly could be transformed into a home. While working hard, she also raised three children with her beloved husband, Bill, who preceded her in 1986. Her energy, enthusiasm and spirit for life will be incredibly missed. She is survived by: her daughters Laura (Jamie) Turner of Westminster, MD and Jenny (Bill) Falconer of Boulder, CO; her son Berry Hager of Greenbelt, MD; four grandchildren, Ellie (Corey) Bullock of Owings Mills, MD, Will (Casey) Turner of Hanover, PA, Emily Falconer of Denver, CO and Eric Falconer of Boulder, CO; plus one great grandchild, Cameron Bullock of Owings Mills, MD. A memorial service will be held on April 6 at 2 p.m. at Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon, 7501 Church Ave., followed by a social gathering with light fare. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon; Carroll Hospice, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157; or Copper Ridge Employee Appreciation Fund, 710 Obrecht Rd., Sykesville, MD 21784.Sandra Grimm Sandra L. Grimm, 61, of Aleppo Township, died Monday, Dec. 31, 2012 in Good Samaritan Hospice House, Wexford. She is survived by her husband, Alfred Grimm; four sons, Joshua J. Grimm and Chris C. Grimm, both of Sewickley, Matthew A. Grimm and his fiancée Darlene Crowe of Ross Township and Eric A. Grimm and his wife Lindsay of Ohio Township; two brothers, Dale Clifford of Sewickley and Henry Clifford of Conneaut, PA; her sister, Peggy Charney of Florida; and a grandson, Dustin Grimm. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Dorothy Dawson Clifford; and her sister, Bonnie Smith. Friends were received at Richard D. Cole Funeral Home, Sewickley, where services were held on Friday. Burial was in Sewickley Cemetery. Donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society.F. Yvonne McCormick F. Yvonne "Bonnie" Deener McCormick, 89, of North Oaks, MN, formerly of Pittsburgh and Zelienople, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012. Mrs. McCormick was a Geneva College graduate and taught in Avalon Elementary School for many years. She, along with her husband, enjoyed retirement in Parker, PA and Green Valley, AZ. She is survived by her husband, Fred B. McCormick Sr.; two sons, Fred B. McCormick Jr. and his wife Mitzi and Charles L. McCormick and his wife Barbara; four grandchildren, Kayleigh M., Niall F. and Kyle C. McCormick and Nathan R.M. Crawford and his wife Daniela; two sisters-in-law, Beverly Bixler and Texana Deener; 10 nieces; and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sydney J.; her parents, Russell M. and Josephine R. Main Deener; and two brothers, David R. and J. Leonard Deener. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon, where services were held on Saturday. Memorial contributions are suggested to Geneva College, I/A Dept., 3200 College Ave., Beaver Falls, PA 15010.Ella Reshko Ella Reshko, 87, of Erie, PA, formerly of Bellevue and wife of the late Carl Reshko, died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. Mrs. Reshko was very active in community and political groups. She worked for the Northgate School District for 21 years and was president of the Northgate Education Support Personnel Association for 10 years. She was PTA president at Grant Elementary School, a Girl Scout leader, a member of the Bellevue Republican Committee, a Bellevue Council member for four years, a member of Bellevue's zoning hearing board, past president of North Boroughs Women's Republican party, a member of Allegheny County Republican Women's Council, Kiwanis Club and Quaker Valley Council of Governments, trustee for the John A. Hermann Art Museum for 10 years, past matron of Bellevue OES Chapter #85, and a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church for more than 55 years. She initiated and chaired the Bellevue Community Fest for five years and was 1989 Bellevue "Citizen of the Year." She is survived by two daughters, Carol Geraci and her husband Dennis Albaugh Sr. of Mineral City, OH and Betty Flaherty and her husband Pat of Erie; two sisters, Josephine Nellis and her husband Puks of Turtle Creek, PA and Anna Mae Anderson of Holiday Park, PA; two granddaughters, Carla Kenney and her husband Jeremy of Columbus, OH and Michelle Flaherty of Erie; a great-grandson, Hudson Kenney; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Sophie Shanter; and seven siblings, Elsie Stasko, Rudy Shanter, Mary Mikolaczyk, Elizabeth Arno, John Shanter, Joseph Shanter and Theresa Hribal. Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon, where services were held on Monday. Burial was in Allegheny County Memorial Park. Donations are suggested to Andrew Bayne Memorial Library, 34 N. Balph Ave., Bellevue, PA 15202.Margaret Holquist Margaret Elizabeth Gordon Holquist, 82, of Sewickley, wife of the late Richard D. Holquist, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. Mrs. Holquist received a bachelor of arts degree from Muskingham College in 1952. She was an elementary school teacher. She was a founding member of Orchard Hill Church and Christ Church at Grove Farm. She is survived by two children, A. Scott Holquist and his wife Lori and Marcy Duff and her husband Robert, all of Sewickley; two brothers, Albert Gordon and his wife Della of Seattle, WA and William Gordon and his wife Jean of Cleveland, OH; and three grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Duff, Katharyn Louise Holquist and Alexandria Adair Holquist. She was preceded in death by her parents, Livingston A. and Sarah Adair Gordon. A memorial service will be held in Christ Church at Grove Farm on Friday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Dr. John Guest officiating. Private burial was in Sewickley Cemetery. Donations are suggested to John Guest Ministry Fund, c/o Christ Church at Grove Farm, 249 Duff Rd., Sewickley, PA 15243. Arrangements were made by Copeland of Sewickley.Betty Lou Mueck Betty Lou Mueck, 71, of Bellevue, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. She is survived by three children, Jeff Lehman and his wife Donna of Carmichaels, PA, Michael Lehman and his wife Marcie and Debra Wesesky and her husband Tom, all of Shaler Township; and four grandchildren, Megan, Tyler, Morgan and Skylar. Contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, Southwest Region, 320 Bilmar Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15205. Arrangements were made by Simons Funeral Home.Henry Sonnet Henry J. Sonnet, 96, of Ben Avon, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. Mr. Sonnet had been a draftsman before his retirement. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He enjoyed gardening, traveling and reading. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Sonnet; seven children, Thomas and his wife Anne, Richard and his wife Patty, Robert and his wife Louise, Daniel and his wife Sara, Bernard and his wife Elaine, Sheila and Pamela; 10 grandchildren, Benjamin, Evan, Jasmin, Allya, Luke, Eric, Rachel, Isabel, Penelope and Teather; and two great-granddaughters, Elinor and Frances. He was preceded in death by three siblings, Alice Clark and her husband James, Dolly Arch and her husband Robert and Bill Sonnet and his wife Ann. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Sacred Heart Church in Emsworth on Tuesday. Donations are suggested to his church at 154 Orchard Ave., Emsworth, PA 15202.Edith Verdi Edith Verdi, wife of the late Alphonse Verdi, died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. Mrs. Verdi was a longtime member of I.S.D.A. Amity Lodge #45. She is survived by three children, Angela Novak and her husband David, Patty Verdi and Ronald Verdi and his wife Cindy; two siblings, Esther Fanning and her husband Jim and Nick Lilli; and three grandchildren, Brian and Lisa Verdi and Natalie Novak. She was preceded in death by six siblings, Philomena Massucci, Dolly Matz, Dom Lilli, Josephine Giovengo, Sam Lilli and Jane Popovich. Friends were received at Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, North Side. A funeral mass was held in Risen Lord Church on Tuesday.Raymond Cook Raymond R. Cook, 88, of Bellevue, formerly of Clinton, PA and husband of the late Phyllis Mouck Cook, died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. He is survived by two daughters, Donna Hart and her husband Moses and Barbara A. Cook. He was preceded in death by two sons, Terry and Larry Cook. There was no visitation. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. in the Moody Funeral Home, Route 30, Clinton, PA.Betty Kicher Betty Dillman Kicher, 92, of Zelienople, formerly of Bellevue and Franklin Park and wife of the late John E. Kicher, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 in Good Samaritan Hospice House. Mrs. Kicher was a member of Franklin Park Women's Club and volunteered on the Franklin Park Recreation Board. She was secretary of McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance Service. She also, along with her husband, was owner of Kicher Duplicating Service in Ben Avon, now run by their son. She is survived by three children, Marcia Caldwell and her husband Robert of Ingomar, Janet Wood and her husband Larry of Plum Borough and John Kicher and his wife Mary Kay of Mt. Nebo; her brother, Daniel Dillman of Zelienople; and seven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Marcella Hufschmidt Dillman. Friends were received at Copeland's Sewickley Funeral Home with additional visitation until the time of services in the chapel at Passavant Retirement Community on Friday, with Pastor Wilfred Goetze officiating. Burial was in Highwood Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to Lutheran Senior Life Foundation, Children's Home of Pittsburgh or Good Samaritan Hospice House.Ruth Blandino Ruth Elizabeth Blandino, 91, formerly of Ben Avon Heights, wife of the late Al Blandino, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 in Emeritus Assisted Living Facility, Sunrise, FL. She is survived by three children, Michael Blandino and his wife Sue, Linda Powell and her husband Phil and Gary Blandino and his wife Diane; five grandchildren, Matthew Jedediah, Joseph, Alison, Thomas and Matthew; and five great-grandchildren, Racheal, Aiden, Luca, Tobey and Lilly. Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the Church of the Assumption on Friday. Burial was in Christ Our Redeemer Cemetery. Donations are suggested to Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund, 5430 NW 33rd Ave., Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 or a favorite charity or local hospice.Howard Hood Howard Edward Hood, 83, of Avalon died Monday, Jan.7, 2013. Mr. Hood was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a Seville Volunteer Fire Co. volunteer for 50 years. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Laux Hood; four children, Bob Hood and his wife Amy, Cathy Dorsch and her husband Don, Debbie Rankin and Donna Zelinka; three siblings, Ruth Erdlen and her husband Bill, Edith Cary and her husband Ed and Edward Hood and his wife Dee; his stepbrother, Joseph Silvester and his wife Margie; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held later. Arrangements were made by McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon.