Nov 1, 2012

Ralph “Tony” Chiaverini, 78, of Canonsburg, passed away Wednesday, October 31, 2012, in UPMC-Shadyside hospital, Pittsburgh, following a four-month illness. He was born April 18, 1934, in Palena, Provenzia di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy, son of the late Donato and Annamaria Dimartino Chiaverini. Mr. Chiaverini came to Canonsburg with his father in late July 1955. He was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Chiaverini had been employed at the former Canonsburg Pottery Co. for 22 years, West Argo Chemical and Joseph Testa Concrete. Prior to his retirement, he had been employed as a machine operator at All-Clad Metals. He was a member of the Labor Temple and Sons of Italy.On January 16, 1961, he married Concetta “Connie” Pierorazio, who survives. Also surviving are daughter Mary (Gerald) D’Amico and son Daniel (Betty “Rude”) Chiaverini, both of Canonsburg; four grandchildren, Jessica D’Amico, Christopher and Cayla Camerson and Matthew D’Amico; sister Marianna Dimartino of Sinking Springs; and several nieces and nephews. Deceased is his daughter, Antoinette “Toni” Camerson, who died June 30, 1994.Friends are welcome from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday in Salandra Funeral Service Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120, where a blessing service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 3. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Patrick Church, Canonsburg. Entombment will follow in Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray. To view or extend condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.

Lawrence E. Donovan, 82, of Scott Township, died Wednesday, October 31, 2012. He was born December 5, 1929, in Pittsburgh. On June 29, 1957, he married Eleanor Schweinebraten, who survives. Mr. Donovan was a veteran and prisoner of war of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a retired teacher from Chartiers Valley School District and a member of Bridgeville American Legion Post 54. Mr. Donovan was instrumental in the building of the Korean War Memorial in Pittsburgh. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are brother James Donovan and sister Mary Vish; and many loving nieces and nephews. Deceased are three brothers, Ross, William and Raymond Donovan, and two sisters, Elizabeth McGregor and Dolores Stemmler. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in Warchol Funeral Home Inc., 3060 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, 412-221-3333. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Saturday, November 3, in Our Lady of Grace Church, Scott Township, with the Rev. Richard Infante as celebrant. Entombment with full military honors will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters Township. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515. View and add condolences at www.warcholfuneralhome.com.

Yolanda Louise Dabiero Ferraro, 90, of Phoenix, Ariz., formerly of Monongahela, passed away Wednesday, October 31, 2012, in Phoenix, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born into a large Italian family February 14, 1922, in Donora, daughter of the late Angelo and Josephine Servatti Dabiero.Mrs. Ferraro was an active member of the former St. Anthony’s Parish, now St. Damien of Molokai Parish in Monongahela, was a member of its Altar Rosary Christian Mothers and enjoyed spending time at the Monongahela Senior Citizens Center. She loved bowling, watching the Steelers, playing cards and dancing, but more than anything she cherished cooking big Italian meals for her family and loved ones.Surviving are her four children, Dr. James Ferraro and wife Lourdes, Patrick Ferraro and wife Patricia, Edward Ferraro and wife Georganne and Mary Jo Minton; eight grandchildren, Christina, Pierce, Peyton, Maria, Marla, Angelina, Kara and Kaitlyn; great-granddaughter Jillian; and sister Theresa Rossi.In addition to her parents, deceased are her husband, Patsy C. Ferraro, the love of her life, who passed away October 1, 2003; brothers Cosmo, Ralph and Carmen; and sisters Mary, Annie and Jennie.Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in Frye Funeral Home Inc., 427 West Main Street, Monongahela. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, November 5, in St. Damien of Molokai Parish, St. Anthony’s Church, with the Rev. William Terza, pastor, as celebrant. Committal services and interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery. Contributions may be made in memory of Mrs. Ferraro and her husband Patsy to Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Suite E201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. To leave a condolence to the family, visit www.fryefuneralhome.com.

Samuel McClain House Jr., 88, of Cardale, formerly of Centerville, died Monday, October 29, 2012.He was born July 31, 1924, in Bentleyville, son of the late Samuel M. Sr. and Blanche L. Weaver House.Mr. House was a 1943 graduate of Centerville High School and was self-employed as a state certified printer.He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II.Mr. House enjoyed animals, reading and was an antique automobile enthusiast. His companion was his loving Doberman, Junior. Surviving are three daughters, Rella C. Whetzel (Randy) of Mt. Jackson, Va., Laura D. House of Scenery Hill and Audrey L. Shadkami of Stasburg, Va.; son Samuel M. House III (Jodi) of Fletcher, Okla.; six grandchildren, Michael Hess, Sarah Shadkami, Justin House, Abigail House, Abrahem House and Daniel Wasserbach; great-grandchild Brenton; two sisters, Irma Smarsh (Stephen) of Riverdale, N.J., and Geraldine Connors of Centerville; and seven nieces and nephews.Deceased, in addition to his parents, are two daughters, Blanche I. House and Rachael House, and granddaughter Brandi N. Hess.Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in John B. Greenlee Funeral Home, 2830 Main Street, Beallsville, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 3, with Pastor Randy Whetzel officiating. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the House Family, c/o Greenlee Funeral Home, P.O. Box 11, Beallsville, PA 15313. A guest book and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHome.com.

Pauline P. Keller, 91, of Brownsville, died Tuesday, October 30, 2012, in Ormond Beach, Fla., where she resided since 1978.She was born September 18, 1921, in California, Pa., daughter of the late Dale and Ann Paling.In addition to her parents, deceased is her husband, Cyril Keller.Surviving is her son, Dale Keller of Canonsburg.She graduated from California State Teachers College and Penn State.Mrs. Keller taught at Brownsville and Trinity high schools.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Alzheimer’s Association of Pittsburgh, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Barbara Ann Knopp, 70, of Scenery Hill, died Tuesday, October 30, 2012, in Washington Hospital.She was born June 5, 1942, in Uniontown, daughter of the late Mike and Margaret Rabatin Gaydos.Mrs. Knopp was a 1960 graduate of North Union High School.A homemaker, she also had worked as a dietician in Florida. She was a member of St. John’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Uniontown.Mrs. Knopp enjoyed a lifetime of gardening, canning much of what her gardens produced, as well as making homemade jellies, buns, cookies and other bakery products. She was an excellent baker.She enjoyed spending time with her grandson, Zachary, who was the light of her life and brought her much enjoyment.On December 16, 1967, she married Sanford W. “Sandy” Knopp, who died May 11, 2006. Surviving are son Kevin D. Knopp of Scenery Hill; grandson Zachary N. Knopp of Scenery Hill; four sisters, Carolyn Parsons of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Mary Yonker (John) of Ocean City, Md., Deborah Livak (Jay) of Glenelg, Md., and Brenda Proud (James) of Uniontown; four brothers, Michael Gaydos (Bonnie), Daniel Gaydos (Barbara) and James Gaydos (Marcie), all of Uniontown, and Robert Gaydos (Deborah) of Annadale, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.Deceased, in addition to her parents and husband, is a brother, Edward Gaydos.Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in John B. Greenlee Funeral Home, 2830 Main Street, Beallsville, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 5, with Pastor Melissa Geisler officiating. Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery, Uniontown. A guest book and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHome.com.

Mary Geraldine “Jerry” Martin, 86, of Houston, passed away Thursday, November 1, 2012, in Golden Living Center, South Hills. Arrangements are incomplete and are entrusted to Salandra Funeral Service Inc., 724-745-8120. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.

John Opeka Jr., 94, of Peters Township, died in his home surrounded by family Thursday, November 1, 2012. He was born and raised in Oakdale. Surviving are his wife of almost 70 years, Lillian Kosmach Opeka; three children, Donald (Terri) Opeka, Nancy (Bill) Opeka Barnard and Dale (Corinne) Opeka; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Frank Opeka and Matthew (Jean) Opeka.Capt. Opeka was a veteran of World War II, serving as a navigator in the 310th Bomb Group of the 12th Army Air Corps. He was based in North Africa and Corsica. He flew 51 missions during the war, many as the squadron navigator in the B-25 bomber group. Capt. Opeka finished the war as flight commander at the Navigation Training Center in Hondo, Texas. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters. He was admitted to the Hall of Valor at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Oakland as well as the Hall of Valor in McMurray Post 764, of which he was a member. In 1948, he and Lillian built their home in Peters Township. After completing the home, he opened his auto repair business in his garage. Opeka Auto Repair moved to its current location on Valley Brook Road in 1960 and is the oldest family-owned business in Peters Township.His business and social activities were many and varied. They included being the longest serving board member of Slovenian Savings and Loan with 62 years of membership and recently as vice president; longtime member of SNPJ Lodge 138; served as a local officer for the Automotive Service Association and was a director of the ASA Credit Union; was a longtime member of Independent Garage Owners and served as both a local and a state officer; served on the advisory board of Western Area Career and Technology Center; was a member of Peters Township Chamber of Commerce; and received the Paul Harris Award from the McMurray Rotary, of which he was a member. Friends are welcome from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Beinhauer Funeral Home, 2828 Washington Road, Peters Township, 724-941-3211. Services and interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Please add and view tributes at www.beinhauer.com.

Matthew Larry Taylor, 58, of Canonsburg, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, October 17, 2012, in his home. He was born September 26, 1954, in Canonsburg, son of Jane Wiencek Taylor and the late Matthew Taylor.Mr. Taylor lived his entire life in Canonsburg, where he was a graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, member of Canonsburg Untied Presbyterian Church and retired from Cannon-McMillan High School as a custodian. He enjoyed bowling and listening to music. He especially enjoyed riding his motorcycle and belonged to Washington HOG. On December 18, 1978, he married his beloved wife, Nancy Harper, who survives.Also surviving, in addition to his mother and wife, are sister Rebecca (David) George of Arizona; brother Gary (Lisa) Taylor of Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.At the request of the deceased, there will be no visitation. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 3, in Salandra Funeral Service Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120. Interment will be private in Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray. Please meet the family at the chapel. To view or leave condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.