Oct 26, 2013

Worked for the U.S. Army and U.S. Steel

Benedicte “Benny” Dzimiera, 92, of Monongahela, passed away Saturday, October 26, 2013.

She was born December 31, 1920, in Braddock, a daughter of the late Stephen and Michalena Pogorzelski Jasinski. She was the beloved wife of the late Edward Dzimiera, who passed away June 3, 1986.

During the war, she was employed by the U.S. Army Ordnance Department in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a secretary. When the war ended, she worked at U.S. Steel, Christy Park Works, as a timekeeper in the machine shop.

Mrs. Dzimiera was a member of St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Transfiguration Church, Monongahela, its Altar and Rosary Christian Mother Society and the Greater Pittsburgh Dahlia Society for many years.

Surviving are two daughters, Elaine Dzimiera and Judy Rostosky, both of Finleyville; a grandson, Andrew Rostosky of Finleyville; a great-grandson, Braden Petre; sisters Anne Chayben of Bentleyville and Vicky Lunchar of Willowick, Ohio; and a brother, John Jasinski of Donora.

Deceased, in addition to her parents and husband, are a sister, Stella Borrelli, and a brother, Edward Jasinski.

Loving care was shown to Mrs. Dzimiera by employees of Mt. Vernon of South Park and Three Rivers Hospice.

Family and friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Frye Funeral Home Inc., 427 West Main Street, Monongahela, where funeral prayers will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 30, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Transfiguration Church, with the Rev. William Terza, pastor as celebrant. Committal service and interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Monongahela. Contributions may be made to Father Leger Memorial Fund, 722 West Main Street, Monongahela, PA 15063. Condolences may be made to the family at www.fryefuneralhome.com.

U.S. Army veteran served three tours in Vietnam

Edward Walker Hanna, 74, of Washington, died Monday, October 21, 2013, in Washington Hospital.

He was born March 20, 1939, in Washington, a son of Walter Hanna and Thelma Harshman Hanna.

Mr. Hanna served in the U.S. Army for 16 years and did three tours in Vietnam.

He worked for Washington County at Mingo Creeek County Park in maintenance for 20 years.

Surviving are three brothers, Richard Hanna, Bill Hanna and Bob Hanna, and two sisters, Patricia Onopiuk and Dolores Tarr, all of Washington.

Deceased are a brother, Jack Hanna, and a sister, Cheryl Hanna.

At the request of the deceased, there will be no public visitation. Burial was in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township. A guest book is available at www.nealfuneralhomes.com.

Enjoyed farming, owning and trading horses

Charles R. “Buck” Harris, 85, of Waynesburg, died at 4:30 a.m. Saturday, October 26, 2013, in Rolling Meadows Nursing Home, Waynesburg.

He was born Thursday, June 21, 1928, in Wayne Township, Greene County, a son of the late Riley Harris and Sally Huffman Harris.

Mr. Harris was a member of Claughton Chapel United Methodist Church, Waynesburg.

He enjoyed farming and owning and trading horses. He loved his dog.

Mr. Harris worked for 18 years as an equipment operator for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

On December 17, 1955, he married Alberta Lough, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Delores (Thomas) Toland of Waynesburg, Patty Harris of Sacramento, Calif., and Linda (Richard) Morris of Waynesburg; three sons, Walter (Prudence) Harris of Stafford, Va., Gary (Kim) Harris of Waynesburg and Donald (Marcy) Harris of Waynesburg; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Elwood “Bush” Harris of Beaver Falls; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are five sisters and three brothers.

Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the time of service, Tuesday, October 29, in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L. Throckmorton, owner/director, 197 North Maiden Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370, with the Rev. Kathy Higgins officiating. Burial will be in Claughton Cemetery, Whiteley Township, Greene County. Information is available at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.

Trinity Church parishioner

Betty Jeanne Moore Kurek, 88, a lifelong resident of Washington, died Friday, October 25, 2013, in Donnell House, Washington, after a brief illness.

She was born November 17, 1924, the only child of the late Walter Moore and Minnie Clish.

Mrs. Kurek graduated from Washington High School in January 1943,and went to work at Duncan Miller, where she met Edward “Ed” Kurek, whom she married August 27, 1946. Mr. Kurek died in 2007.

She was active in her community. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary and past president of its Edwin Scott Linton Unit 175. She was also a member and past corresponding secretary of Washington Council of Republican Women. Her most treasured membership though was as a parishioner of Trinity Church, where she was baptized in 1925 and continued to be an active member throughout her life.

Mrs. Kurek was an avid Steelers and Pirates fan. She also enjoyed traveling, especially the annual trips she and her husband made to Maryland to visit his sisters and their families.

While they were never blessed with children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Kurek were very engaged in the lives of their nieces, nephews and neighbor’s children. Mrs. Kurek faithfully remembered birthdays and anniversaries and was always a favorite guest at graduations, weddings and other special events.

In addition to her nieces and nephews, surviving is a sister-in-law, Mary Kurek Kish of Clinton, Md.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., the time of service, Tuesday, October 29, in Trinity Church, 550 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301. Burial will be held in Washington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Church or Donnell House, c/o Washington Health Systems Hospice Care, 155 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301. A guest book is available at www.nealfuneralhomes.com.

St. Patrick schoolteacher, J.C. Penney employee

Stephanie Eileen Kimenski Mozina, 60, of Burgettstown, formerly of Marianna, died unexpectedly Friday, October 25, 2013, in her home.

She was born June 29, 1953, in Marianna, a daughter of the late John and Betty Roule Kimenski.

Mrs. Mozina was the third grade teacher in St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Canonsburg at the time of her death and former teacher in St. Hilary’s Catholic School in Washington. She also worked for Teek’s Shoes in Washington Mall and presently for J.C. Penney in Washington for 22 years.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Burgettstown.

Mrs. Mozina enjoyed reading, vacationing and spending time with family and friends. Making a difference in the lives of children by teaching was one of the most important things to her.

On September 24, 2005, she married Stanley Mozina, who survives.

Also surviving are siblings, Mary Marlyn Davis of Georgia, Janice and Denise Kimenski both of Marianna, David (Lisa) Kimenski of Washington, Danny Kimenski of New York, Marcya Truesdell of Washington and Alexis Shaw of Washington; a niece, Wendy Ann Petka and children Owen and Miranda; and a nephew, David Petka.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Taucher Funeral Home, 23 Erie Mine Road, Burgettstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, October 28, in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Burgettstown, with the Rev. Robert Connolly, the Rev. Richard J. Jones and the Rev. George Moneck, pastor, as concelebrants. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to St. Patrick School ANGEL FUND, 200 Murdock Street, Canonsburg, PA 15317. For further information or to leave a condolence, please visit www.taucherfuneralhome.com.

Canon-McMillan School District reading aide

Rose Marie Novak, 83, of Cecil, died Friday, October 25, 2013.

She was born November 30, 1929, in Daisytown, a daughter of the late Andrew and Margaret O’Rourke Slebonick.

Mrs. Novak was a member of St. Mary Parish.

She was a reading aide for Canon-McMillan School District, where she worked at every district elementary school for 26 years, retiring in 1996. She was very devoted to her family and grandchildren, was an avid reader and enjoyed cooking and baking.

Surviving are five daughters, Jean (Ed) Scholtz of Blue Bell, Mary (John) McCafferty of Cecil, Margaret Novak of Cecil, Diane (Bruce) Koontz of Charlotte Hall, Md., and Linda Novak of Cecil; a son, Robert (Kathy) Novak of Clinton Township, Mich.; a daughter-in-law, Maureen Bedel Novak of Pittsburgh; eight grandchildren, Eddie and Sarah Scholtz, Clint, Mark (Pangnu) and Michael Novak, and Matthew, Jessica and Madison Koontz; two brothers, Andrew (Jean) Slebonick of Cecil, and Robert (Jean) Slebonick of Fort Pierce, Fla.; two sisters, Leona Long of Pittsburgh and Bernie (Mike) Cunningham of Bridgeville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Anthony J. Novak in 2006; a son, Anthony Novak in 2003; and two sisters, Margaret Slebonick and Kathleen Shinsky.

Friends will be received fromn 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in Coleman-Taylor Funeral Services, 3378 Millers Run Road (Route 50), Cecil, where prayers of transfer will be said at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, followed by a Christian Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Cecil, with Father Stan Gregorek, officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Cecil. The family suggests donations be made to St. Mary Parish, 10 St. Mary Lane, Cecil, PA 15321. Please visit coleman-taylorfuneralservices.com.

Heavy equipment operator was U.S. Marine gunner

John Franklin Null, 71, of Washington, died Friday, October 25, 2013, in Washington Hospital.

He was born June 28, 1942, in Washington, a son of Frank Temple Null and Mary Ellen Henderson Null, who are deceased.

Mr. Null was a machine gunner for the U.S. Marines. He served in Vietnam and received a Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

He was a heavy equipment operator for strip mining, life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Washington 927 and a member of American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175. He also had a passion for working on cars.

On January 26, 1968, he married Barbara Grzybowski, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, John Null Jr. of Washington; a daughter, Donna Null Donley of Washington; a brother, Robert Null of Iowa; a sister, Rachel Bowman of Amity; and two grandchildren, Albert and John Donley.

He also leaves behind a special friend, Jordan Crawford.

Deceased are a brother, Clarence Null, and a sister, Helen Null.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 30. Burial will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil. Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175. Memorial contribution can be made to Citizens Library, 55 South College Street, Washington, PA 15301. Additional information and guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.