Steve J. Lipovic

January 28, 2019 |

By Strifflers Family Funeral Homes | Posted in: Strifflers Family Funeral Homes

Kenneth James "Stiem" Dudik

January 28, 2019 |

By Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory

Kenneth James "Stiem" Dudik, 59, of White Oak, passed away Sunday, December 23, 2018. He was born March 9, 1959 in McKeesport and was the son of the late Michael Robert and Betty Jane ( Kerston) Dudik. Kenneth was a US Army Veteran. He worked for Graciano Corporation. He was a member of Local Mason Tenders # 79 out of New York and Pittsburgh His hobbies were riding dirt bikes and motorcycles and sitting by campfires with friends and family. 

Bertha Helen (Check) Dowden Tomko

January 28, 2019 |

By Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory

Bertha Helen (Check) Dowden Tomko, 98, of Jupiter, Fl, formerly of Port Vue, passed away Monday, January 21, 2019. She was born July 4, 1920 in Clairton and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Bertha (Chontos) Check. She was the wife of the late Duane Dowden and the late John Tomko. Mrs. Tomko was a graduate The Douglas Business School and worked as a credit manager for over 35 years for Sears-Roebuck Company. For 20 plus years, Mrs. Tomko would travel to Winter Haven, Florida for the winter.

Patricia Ann Patrick

January 28, 2019 |

By Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory

Patricia Ann Patrick, 73, of Monroeville, formerly of McKeesport, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January  26, 2019. Born February  15, 1945 in Corpus Christi, TX, she was the daughter of Sophie (Gaboda) Martich of Johnstown and the late John Martich. She was a member of St. Michael's Orthodox Church in McKeesport and taught Sunday School there for over 40 years. Patricia was a Medical Transcriptionist. She began at Lee Hospital in Johnstown, followed by Mon-Yough Mental Health Services in McKeesport and The Western Psychiatric Hospital in Oakland. She had worked for UPMC for over 35 years of her career. She received her Master's Degree from Duquesne University.

Betty Jane Decker

January 28, 2019 |

By Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory

Betty Jane Decker, 87, of McKeesport, passed away on Friday, January 25, 2019 at Magee Women’s Hospital of UPMC.  Born on September 13, 1931 in the home in McKeesport where she spent her entire life, she was the youngest daughter of the late Richard and Clara (Fey) Trainor.  She was married to Alvin P. Decker for 68 years whom she met while working at McKeesport Baking Company.  She later worked at The Donut Corner, then Bertos Restaurant and finally 23 years cooking and serving lunch to the students of St. Joseph Regional School in Port Vue.

Thomas S. Mikula

January 28, 2019 |

By Strifflers Family Funeral Homes | Posted in: Strifflers Family Funeral Homes

Thomas S. Mikula, age 70 of North Huntingdon, died Sunday, January 27, 2019. He was born November 2, 1948 in Uniontown, PA, the son of the late Matthew and Helen Bealko Mikula. Tom was a graduate of Penn State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree. He was an avid golfer and fisherman, but his grandchildren were the joy of his life. He was a career salesman and after his retirement he enjoyed driving for Lyft. 

Sandra L. Feltz

January 25, 2019 |

By willig | Posted in: Willig Funeral Home & Crematory

Sandra L. (Gabris) Feltz, age 64, of West mifflin, died January 18, 2019, at home. Born July 21, 1954, in McKeesport, she was the daughter of August Gabris and the late Dorothy (Dukich) Ivan and the wife of the late Thomas A. Feltz.

Maryann Perez

January 25, 2019 |

By willig | Posted in: Willig Funeral Home & Crematory

Maryann Perez, age 51, of West Mifflin, died January 18, 2019, at AHN Jefferson Hospital. Born May 4, 1967, in Braddock, she was the daughter of the late Russell and Audrey (Lyoch) Wiley and the wife of the late Michael Perez.

Joan "CC" Hileman

January 25, 2019 |

By Strifflers Family Funeral Homes | Posted in: Strifflers Family Funeral Homes

Sally J. (Farmerie) Shamber

January 25, 2019 |

By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory

Sally J. (Farmerie) Shamber, age 70 of Glassport and formerly of Clairton, passed away at home on Friday, January 25, 2019.  Born June 19, 1948 in McKeesport, she was a daughter of the late John J. and Dorothy (Spahr) Farmerie, Sr.  Sally worked as a cook at the Terrace Garden, at the batteries at US Steel Clairton Works, and at Great American Federal Bank, all of Clairton.  She was also a member of the Sons of Columbus Santa Maria Post # 3 of Clairton. A loving and giving mother and grandmother, Sally was a social and fun loving woman who will be dearly missed by all who knew her.  

Alice Elaine Bertok

January 25, 2019 |

By James W. Shirley Funeral Home Inc. | Posted in: James W. Shirley Funeral Home

Estelle (Gottdiener) Galper

January 24, 2019 |

By Strifflers Family Funeral Homes | Posted in: Strifflers Family Funeral Homes

Estelle (Gottdiener) Galper, 86, of Cincinnati, Ohio, formerly of McKeesport/White Oak, Pennsylvania, slipped into eternity on January 24, 2019, after a lengthy illness, surrounded by loved ones. She was born and raised in McKeesport, the daughter of the late Gustav and Olga (Spitz) Gottdiener.

After her marriage to the late Milton Galper, her beloved husband of 60 years, she moved to White Oak where she raised her four children (with a brief interlude in Newport News, Virginia) as a stay-at-home mother. After her youngest children were old enough, she realized her dream of going to college, and attained Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, she worked as a psychiatric social worker initially in the Pittsburgh area, and subsequently for many years at Jewish Family Service Cincinnati, where she and her husband had moved in 1987. Her outgoing and empathetic nature made her a perfect fit for a career assisting others to cope with the traumas and stresses of their lives. Estelle was a long-time member of the old Temple B’nai Israel synagogue in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. She had a beautiful contralto voice and sang in the Temple choir for many years. Congregants enjoyed her rendition of the avinu malkeinu prayer during the annual High Holy Day. Estelle had a lifelong passion for music (especially vocal jazz standards, show tunes, opera and symphonic/classical music), movies, literature and poetry, which passions she conveyed to her children. Estelle is survived by her children, Mark Galper of Monessen, PA; Jill (Joan Brown) Galper of Philadelphia, PA; Scott (Fabiana Perla) Galper of Philadelphia, PA; and Betsy (Kathrin England) Galper of Cincinnati, OH, who was her long-time caretaker. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Matthew, Dylan, Nicholas, and Lucia; by 8 great-grandchildren; by her sister-in-law, Ethel (Leonard) Hellenthal; and her sisters, Judy (David) Lichtenstein and Sandy (Philip) Raskin; five nieces; and four nephews. 

Friends will be received on Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 10:00 am  until the time of services at 11:00 am at Strifflers of White Oak Cremation & Mortuary Services, 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA  15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177). Services will be officiated by Rabbi Paul Tuchman.  Burial will follow in the Temple Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to Jewish Family Service Cincinnati, 8487 Ridge Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45236 or to Hospice of Cincinnati, c/o Bethesda Foundation, 10500 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242. To share a memory or online condolence, visit strifflerfuneralhomes.com.

James J. McGinty

January 24, 2019 |

By Jaycox-Jaworski Funeral Home - Crematory | Posted in: Jaycox-Jaworski Funeral Home & Crematory

James J. McGinty, age 80, of McKeesport, died January 23, 2019, at UPMC McKeesport Hospital. Born September 4, 1938, in McKeesport, he was the son of the late James V. and Irene (King) McGinty and the husband of the late Jane Marie (Boes) McGinty.

Marlene Pichora

January 24, 2019 |

By willig | Posted in: Willig Funeral Home & Crematory

Marlene Pichora, age 83, Port Vue, died January 22, 2019, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Born March 16, 1935, in McKeesport, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Semko) Kerekes and the wife of the late Andrew L. Pichora for over 39 years.

Lawrence M. “Larry” “Flip” Phillips

January 23, 2019 |

By William Snyder Funeral Home | Posted in: William Snyder Funeral Home

Lawrence M. “Larry” “Flip” Phillips, 79 of Irwin, passed away Sunday January 20, 2019 at home surrounded by his family. He was born April 6, 1939 in McKeesport, the son of the late Adam and Marie (Kaiser) Phillips. Known as Flip from the age of six, he was respected by his loyal friends and students. He was a graduate of McKeesport High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1964 from Fort Hayes Kansas State College where he played basketball for four years reaching the NAIA semifinals twice. For the next 34 years he was a dedicated educator. It all began in Paola, Kansas teaching Biology and coaching basketball before moving back to Pittsburgh. He taught Biology and Chemistry at Gateway High School for 29 years and was Facility Manager for athletics working closely with the Athletic Director until becoming Athletic Director for his final three years at Gateway. He was a proud member of the Gateway High School Sports Hall of Fame and served on the nominating committee. Larry enjoyed the beach, cruising, and playing golf. He was an avid sports fan especially Penn State football and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. He was a Steelers season ticket holder for 40 years. Larry spent many summers golfing and vacationing in Sunset Beach with his golf buddies right after school let out for the summer and later with family and friends.