Sally A. Marraccini
March 18, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Richard W. Brendza
March 16, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Richard W. Brendza, age 88, of Clairton and formerly of McKeesport, passed away peacefully in his home comforted by his family on March 16, 2021. Born on January 31, 1933 in McKeesport, he was the son of the late John and Helen (Janocko) Brendza. Richard was a Navy veteran serving during the Korean War, an electrical motor inspector for U. S. Steel Irvin Works in West Mifflin and a member of Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish, Clairton Worship site. After retirement Richard enjoyed spending time on the Monongahela riding his Jet Ski and will always be remembered for his fun loving personality. Richard is survived by his loving daughter Sharon Brendza, his caregiver with whom he resided.
Michael Goda Jr.
March 16, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Michael Goda Jr., age 92, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 15, 2021. Born July 13, 1928 in Cokeburg, PA, he was the son of the late Michael Goda Sr. and Maria (Kovalchik) Goda.
During the Depression of 1930, Mike, his mother and two siblings left the United States and went back to Slovakia, where the family was from. In 1948, Michael returned to the United States where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 31st Infantry Dixie Division in the Korean War. He worked at U.S. Steel Clairton Works for 31 years.
Mike was an avid singer, not only at home but as a cantor for 25 years at Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church.
If you knew Mike, you knew he loved to work on his farm where he gardened and raised sheep for many years. He also enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s sporting events where everyone knew him as “Pap.” He never met a person he didn’t like and always enjoyed talking to everyone.
Michael J. Gogoel III
March 12, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Michael had a deep-rooted bond with his family and extended family, and was especially close with his cousins. He was proud of and embraced his heritage and always enjoyed family gatherings and other types of celebrations. He was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan and was involved with the Owls in Industry and the WMBU in Blythedale.
Born March 21, 1960 in McKeesport, he was a son of the late Michael J. Gogoel Jr. and the late Helen B. (Korona) Gogoel. He is survived by his sisters, Katharine (Arthur) Hohn of Ruffsdale, Barbara (Jimmy) Pascotti of Elizabeth Twp., Michele Boyd of Elizabeth Twp., Claire (David) Bench of Austin, TX, and Bernadette Thompson of Cheswick; nieces and nephews, Arthur, Christopher, Kara, Amy, Marshall, David, Natalie, Vinnie and Wayne; 12 great-nieces and nephews; one great-great niece; special friend, Bonnie Maringo; also, cousins and close friends.
Jack Douglass Jorgenson
March 12, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Richard C. Jeffers
March 11, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Richard C. Jeffers, age 91, of Jefferson Hills, passed away on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at Jefferson Hospital. He retired as the head custodian for the West Jefferson Hills School District. An Air Force veteran serving during the Korean War, he loved playing cornhole, cards and puzzle books, and enjoyed watching Pittsburgh sports. Born May 8, 1929 in Elrama, he was a son of the late Joseph B. and Vera (Crownover) Jeffers. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Charolette (Gill) Jeffers; daughter, Phylis Jeffers of Jefferson Hills; sons, Scott (Cheryl) Jeffers of Monongahela and Stephen (Darlene) Jeffers of Elizabeth Twp.; grandchildren, Lucas Jeffers, Taylor Jeffers, Tyler (Alyssa) Settelmaier, Brianna Ketzler and Derek Ketzler; four great-grandchildren; sister, Ruth; brother, Ronald; also, nieces and nephews.
William H. Phillips III
March 11, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
William H. Phillips, III, age 65 of McKeesport, passed away on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 in UPMC McKeesport Hospital. Born May 31, 1955 in McKeesport, he was a son of the late William H. Phillips, Jr. and Veronica (Grabill) Phillips. A retired supervisor of technical services for CCI Wireless in Monroeville, William was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in White Oak, a past president of the Norwin Soccer Club, and a volunteer for the Tube City Media Online in McKeesport. He is survived by his wife Rebecca "Becky" (Rowles) Phillips, his son William H. (Natasha) Phillips, IV of McKeesport, his sister Susan (Tim) Walters of White Oak, his niece Christina Walter, his brother-and-sister-in-law Eric and Edith Farst of Gulfport, FL, and his pets Simba, Gizmo, Apollo, and Gene.
Stephen Kurhansky
March 10, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Stephen Kurhansky, age 67, of Hazelwood, passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021. He was a truck driver for Abel Express LLC in Carnegie and a member of St. Stephen Church in Hazelwood. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Born February 28, 1954 in Pittsburgh, he was a son of the late Stephen and Ann Marie (Drobiezewski) Kurhansky. He is survived by his siblings, Terance Kurhansky of Delmont, Diane (Robert) Williams of Bethel Park and Timothy (Kathy) Kurhansky of North Huntingdon; also, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Valeria Durler, Christine Boznick and Maria Knara. No visitation or services are planned. Arrangements by the Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home. Offer condolences at www.bekavacfuneralhome.com.
Joseph J. Jenco
March 09, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Joseph J. Jenco, age 81, of Elizabeth, passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021 at home. An Army veteran, he retired after more than 40 years as a heater for U.S. Steel in Clairton. Born March 31, 1939 in DeRuyter, NY, he was a son of the late Joseph and Mary (Kahot) Jenco. He is survived by his sister, Margaret J. (Gerald) Michalsky of Warrenton, VA, and niece, Mary (Daniel) Bram of Sandy, UT; also, cousins. No visitation or services are planned. Burial will be in Fairfax Memorial Park in Virginia. Arrangements by the Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home, Elizabeth. Offer condolences at www.bekavacfuneralhome.com.
Raymond G. York
March 09, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Raymond G. York, age 93 of Jefferson Hills, passed away on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. Born April 7, 1927 in Clairton, he was a son of the late Andrew and Rose M. (Lutheran) York. A member of Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish – St. Clare of Assisi Church, Raymond received an associate’s degree from Carnegie Tech and retired as a draftsman for US Steel’s Clairton Works. He was also a Veteran of both the US Navy and Army, serving respectively in World War II and the Korean War. Raymond was very active with the Daniel Keffer Post #75 of the American Legion in Clairton, serving as its past commander, chaplain, and financial officer. He also helped many times as a Scoutmaster for his sons’ BSA Troops when they were younger. In his spare time, Ray enjoyed rooting on the hometown Steelers and Pirates. He is survived by his wife of 69 years Rita (Belinski) York; his children Randall (Mary) York of Dormont, Monica King of Stow, OH, and Richard York of Pittsburgh; his grandchildren Jennifer York of Reston, VA, Maureen (J.W.) Johnson of Carnegie, Becca Tracy of Nashville, TN, and Brett (Lauren) Tracy of Seattle, WA; his great-grandson Beck Johnson; his sister Rosemary Armstrong of Syracuse, NY; and also nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Raymond was preceded in death by his brother A. Kenneth York.
Andrew J. Fedorka
March 08, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Andrew J. "Drew" Fedorka, age 69, of Elrama, passed away on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Jefferson Hospital. A retired glass cutter for Guardian Glass in Floreffe, he was a member of the Clairton Hunting & Fishing Camp (CHF) and enjoyed his motorcycles and shooting guns. Born September 4, 1951 in McKeesport, he was a son of the late Stephen and Mary J. (Vavra) Fedorka. He is survived by his son, John M. (Caroline) Sedor of Stoneham, MA; four grandchildren; sisters, Mary Ann Staymates of Blacklick, Anna Magill of Elrama and Margaret Ann (Richard) Earnest of Finleyville; companion, Cheryl Charles; beloved dog, Shade; also, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Angela Storch
March 08, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Angela Storch, age 80 of Conneaut Lake and formerly of Greenock, passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2021 in UPMC Hamot Hospital, Erie. Born May 25, 1940 in Croatia, Angela was a former caregiver and former member of both St. Dennis Parish and Mary, Mother of God Parish - St. Patrick's Church. She is survived by her husband Harry A. Storch, her daughter Nancy (Barry) Kieffer of Conneaut Lake, her grandchildren Norris Kieffer and Kristie Redden, her stepdaughter Linda Storch of Elizabeth, and her step-grandson William (Melissa) Dixon. Angela was preceded in death by her first husband William Klasnick and her son William Klasnick, Jr.
Joseph "Joe Joe" Maksin, Jr.
March 06, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Joseph "Joe Joe" Maksin, Jr., age 63 of Elizabeth Twp., passed away at home on Friday, March 5, 2021. Born July 27, 1957 in McKeesport, he was a son of the late Joseph and Dorothy "June (Beeler) Maksin. A longtime member of the Local #1058 Laborers Union, Joe Joe is survived by his wife of 42 years Jane Ann (O'Donnell) Maksin; his son Joseph (Jamie) Maksin, III of Elizabeth Twp; his granchildren Joseph, Lucas, and Noah; his brothers Earl (Sandy) Maksin of Long Island City, NY, David (Debbie) Maksin of Clairton, Kevin Maksin of Jefferson Hills, and Dean (Tammy) Maksin of Clairton; his sisters Carla (Bob) Matyasovsky of Jefferson Hills and Mari Anne Maksin of Clairton; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers James, Dennis, and Robert Maksin and his sisters Penny Loera, Cheryl Jenkins, and Janet M. Campbell.
Helen Puskar
March 02, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Helen Puskar, age 102 of Bluffton, SC and formerly of McKeesport, passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2021 in The Bloom at Bluffton. Born November 5, 1918 in Duquesne, she was a daughter of the late George and Antoinette (Jakovak) Braun. Helen was a member of Mary, Mother of God Parish - St. Patrick's Church, the CFU Lodge # 146 of Versailles, and its Ladies' and Pensioneers' Clubs. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Nicholas P. Puskar, who passed away March 24, 2004, and her siblings, Frank, George, and Milan Braun and Amelia Cox. Helen is survived by her children George P. (Dr. Kathy) Puskar of Upper St. Clair, Nicholas T. (Donna) Puskar of White Oak, and Helen F. (Mike) Blevins of Hilton Head Island, SC; her grandchildren Doug (Kellie) Puskar, Lori (Jerrod) Crosby, Kristen (Casey) Holtzman, Ashley (Greg) James, and Stacey Zanardelli; her great-grandchildren Makenna and Nicholas Puskar, Gianna, Isabella, and Tessa Crosby, and Hallie, Marlee, and Derek Holtzman, and Brooks Zanardelli; and also nieces and nephews.
Yvonne A. Leggett
March 01, 2021 |
By Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory | Posted in: Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory
Yvonne A. (Beadling) Leggett, age 73, of Elizabeth Twp., passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at West Penn Hospital. She worked in the steel industry for the entirety of her working life, first at US Steel’s Irvin Works, and later for the United Steelworkers of America, from which she retired in 2008.
Although she was a hardworking and dedicated employee, she really thrived in retirement. When family members would occasionally complain about difficulties of their jobs, she was quick to remind them that she had already put in her years! Although never a woman of great wealth, she was exceedingly generous with all that she had, including her time.
After retiring, she spent substantial time volunteering for the New Life Options organization, counseling — and befriending — young, scared, and mostly single new mothers. It brought her true joy to stand in as the mother that most of them never had and that all of them desperately needed.
Throughout her life, she was lightning quick to befriend just about everyone she came into contact with. Her kindness and overt friendliness were legendary. She made it a point to learn as much as possible from everyone regardless of who they were or how direct her connection was with them.
Rare was the occasion when she would meet a stranger on the bus without learning who they were, where they lived, and who their family members were prior to reaching her stop. Yvonne truly believed in the power of kindness and she lived that belief every day of her life. She had a deep understanding of the struggles of life that each of us face and that understanding guided her behavior. She didn’t need to consciously decide to be that way; it was natural. She truly personified empathy and kindness.
