Obituaries 6-12-09

Elaine Genberg Elaine Z. Genberg, 82, of Bellevue, wife of the late Samuel H. Jackson and John B. Genberg, died Tuesday, June 2, 2009. Mrs. Genberg was a volunteer for many community organizations. She is survived by two nieces, Rebecca and Frances Weiss; her nephew, Lawrence Weiss; her brother-in-law, Edward Haber; and other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Jean, Helen and Caroline. Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon, until the time of services on Thursday. Burial was in Beth Shalom Cemetery, Millvale. Donations are suggested to a favorite charity.Laura Peifer Laura J. Peifer, 89, of Ross Township, wife of the late Kenneth Peifer, died Monday, June 1, 2009. She is survived by two nephews, James Swet and his wife Barbara and Lee Stillwell. She was preceded in death by her son, Gerald K. Peifer; her brother, Joseph Adamson; and three sisters, Mary Swet, Jane Stillwell and Betty Bentley. Services were private. Arrangements were made by the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon.Gary Giles Gary Lee Giles of Brighton Heights died Thursday, June 4, 2009. He is survived by three children, Gary Michael, Amanda and Megan Giles; his mother Lynda Hightower; and three brothers, Scott, Donald and Steven. He was preceded in death by his father, Gary Lee Giles. There was no visitation. A memorial service was held in Forest Avenue Presbyterian Church on Saturday. Donations are suggested to his children.Joseph Neuherz Joseph David Neuherz, 54, of Avalon, died Thursday, June 4, 2009. Mr. Neuherz was a journeyman carpenter and enjoyed restoring antique furniture. He is survived by his daughter, Krista Renee Hansen; his mother, Sarah Kathleen Neuherz; eight siblings; and four nieces and nephews, Hannah, Emily, Troy and Nate. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph L. Neuherz. Friends were received at Schellhaas Funeral Home, West View, where a blessing service was held on Monday.Jo Ann O'Keefe Jo Ann O'Keefe, 75, of Brighton Heights, wife of the late William O'Keefe, died Monday, June 8, 2009. She is survived by her sister, Bernidetta Lundy; sister-in-law of Evelyn Kosarich, Anthony Lundy Sr. and Ruth Donovan; and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her son, David James O'Keefe; and her parents, John and Loretta Donovan. Friends were received at Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, North Side. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Risen Lord Church on Friday.Norma Jean VanceNorma Jean Martinelli Vance, 78, of Avalon, died Monday, June 8, 2009. She is survived by nine children, Georgeann O'Neil and her husband Ed, Stanley and his wife Sandy, Anthony and his wife Sue, Joseph and his wife Deb, Ellen Jean Fiorenza and her husband Ralph, Michael and his wife Maria, Cynthia Johnson, John Verbitsky and his wife Tracey and Deborah Thaxton and her husband Ken; 19 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Jean Martinelli; her brother, Joseph Martinelli; and her great-grandson, Mathew Reily. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue. Funeral services and burial were private.William Battaglia William Battaglia, formerly of Bellevue, died May 23, 2009. Mr. Battaglia was a U.S. Air Force veteran of WWII. He leaves his wife, Jennie; brother, Michael Vancheri; granddaughter, Brittany; and Tammy Abrey. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lottie Vancheri; his son, Billy Battaglia; sister, Rose Albo and brother, James Vancheri. Burial was private at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.John Hahn John H. "Jack" Hahn, 79, formerly of Avalon and Millvale, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009. Mr. Hahn worked for J&L Steel in Aliquippa for 36 years. He was a member of Perry Ionic Lodge #716 F&AM. He is survived by his wife, Shirley M. Baird Hahn; six children, John C. Hahn and his wife Kathy, James D. Hahn and his wife Marlene, Jeffery A. Hahn and his wife Margie, Janet M. Sesti Jr. and her husband Sam, Joyce E. Coffey and her husband Robert and Jay B. Hahn and his wife Ann; his brother, William C. Hahn and his wife Betty; 13 grandchildren, Shirley Parker and her husband Mark, Jaime Renda and her husband Justin, Mark Hahn and his wife Kristine, Matthew Hahn and his wife Noelle, Jeffery Hahn Jr., Sarah Hahn, Lance, Joshua, Bradley and Victoria Hahn, Samuel Sesti III, Logan and Emma Coffey; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two grandchildren, John Henry Hahn and Lauretta Hahn. Friends were received at Kasper-Hahn Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Ambridge. Services were held in Vespar Hall, St. John Lutheran Care Center, Mars, PA. Memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Care Home, 500 Whittenberg Way, Mars, PA 16003.Gilda Valeriano Gilda Valeriano, wife of the late Samuel R. Valeriano, died Monday, June 1, 2009. She is survived by three sons, Robert and his wife Wendy, Mark and his wife Kim and Alan Valeriano and his wife Kim; two siblings, Dolores Ewing and Raymond DiLallo; and six grandchildren.Peter Dobrostan Peter Dobrostan, 89, of the North Side, husband of the late Michalina Dobrostan and Marie Dzugan Dobrostan, died Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Mr. Dobrostan worked at Braun Bakery for 25 years. He was a longtime member of St. George Ukrainian Church. He is survived by three grandchildren, Kathleen Galbreath and her husband Jeffrey, Michele Trush and Thomas Jones; and six great-grandchildren, Stephen, Katerina, Jason, Emily, Sara and Peter. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Stephanie Dobrostan Jones. Friends were received at Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, North Side. A funeral service was held in St. George Ukrainian Church on Friday.Helen Wasko Helen M. Wasko, 80, of the North Side, wife of the late Edward F. Wasko, died Tuesday, May 26, 2009. She is survived by six children, Michelle Peasner, Veronica Giesy, Cynthia Fox, Annette Kumpfmiller and her husband Joe, Edward G. Wasko and Richard A. Wasko and his wife Yvonne; two brothers, James and Harry McKinley; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two siblings, Buzzy McKinley and Marie Tass. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue. A blessing and committal service was held in the chapel of St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Shaler Township, on Saturday.Gertrude Lutz Gertrude Brunner Lutz, 90, of Sewickley, wife of the late Theodore A. Lutz, died Friday, May 29, 2009. She is survived by her son, Ted Lutz and his wife Lil; two siblings, Joseph Brunner and Joana Broerman; two grandchildren, Lisa Bossong and her husband Chuck and Kelly Hollaway and her husband Randy; and three great-grandchildren, Charlie, Brooke and Katie. She was preceded in death by three siblings, Dorothy Wintermantle, Ruth Wharrey and Earl Brunner. Friends were received at H.P. Brandt Funeral Home, Ross Township. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in St. Mary Church, Glenfield, on Wednesday.Ruth Miller Ruth L. Miller of Brighton Heights died Monday, June 1, 2009. Ms. Miller worked for PJAX Transportation as a data processor until her retirement. She became a part-time secretary at Brighton-McClure Presbyterian Church where she was a member. She is survived by her daughter, Leslie Hutchinson; her brother, Raymond Miller and his wife Doris; her granddaughter, Alyssa Hutchinson; two nieces, Mary Samuelson and her husband Kenneth and Lori Prins and her husband Nicholas; and a grandniece, Kristina Samuelson. She was preceded in death by her son, David Mawhinney; and her parents, Walter R. and Louise Schmidt Miller. Friends were received at O'Brien Funeral Home, North Side, where funeral services were held on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to her church at Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.Anna Mae Wahlen Anna Mae Wahlen, wife of the late Kenneth B. Wahlen, died Tuesday, June 2, 2009. She is survived by her daughter, Bernadette Tobias and her husband Chuck; three grandchildren, Kristy Kitchener and her husband Lee, Kenneth Wahlen and his wife Debbie and Jennifer Kennedy and her husband Kris; and four great-grandchildren, Meghan and Ryan Wahlen and Makenna and Jacob Kennedy. There was no visitation. A funeral mass was held in St. Cyril of Alexandria Church on Thursday. Contributions are suggested to L.G.A.R. Health Rehab, 800 Elsie St., Turtle Creek, PA 15145. Arrangements were made by Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, North Side.